Wireless Security?

Senor_Pointy · 13th July 2006, 11:34 AM

Hello, everyone.

About 4 months ago, I installed a wireless router on my parent's computer when they switched from dial-up to cable. There were no problems for a while, until the summer came, and people started coming to the town pool/park across the street from their house. At that point, I was home for the summer, and found that now people at the pool were connecting through their router. Even worse, they hadn't set a password, so someone completely turned off the security (or they hadn't enabled it in the first place). At this point, I went a little overboard, set a password that was 24 randomly generated characters long, and enabled WPA2, with a key that's 64 randomly generated hex digits long. Nobody's been able to get on it now, and I doubt they will.

My problem is this: Ever since I turned the security back on, my brother's been complaining about not being able to get on the internet with his gameboy. I've tried to get it to work for him, but it will only apparently work if the router security is set on WEP. Is it worth the risk to lower the security? Or is there any way to get the gameboy (One of the dual screen ones) to work with WPA?

Any help would be appreciated.

Apollyon · 13th July 2006, 12:10 PM

WEP should be fine for security purposes to keep casual users at bay. For determined people with the proper skills, WEP or WPA won't matter anyway.

Be sure to turn off SSID broadcasting as well. If people can't pick up the SSID broadcast they probably won't know a wireless network is in the area.

BenK · 13th July 2006, 12:13 PM

I have the same kind of problem with my router, though I've never actually used my gameboy in the Internet so I don't miss it. I had planed to buy this rather that lower my router security. Although I am assuming the USB device somehow only works with Nintendo devices, I could be wrong.

Chris Haynes · 14th July 2006, 11:51 PM

First suggestion: read about the security settings available with the wireless router.

We set the wireless access to only accept certain computers by editing the MAC list (MAC = machine access code... okay, just guessing the last one).

It comes in handy when we need to restrict a child from the internet. We just delete their computer's MAC address from the list.

Edit to add: a GAMEBOY!!! Sorry, I am not sure how this works with a Gameboy --- which to me is an irritating toy where litte expensive bits show up under chair cushions.

Apollyon · 15th July 2006, 06:30 AM

MAC = Media Access Control

chasing23 · 15th July 2006, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hydrogen Cyanide

It comes in handy when we need to restrict a child from the internet. We just delete their computer's MAC address from the list.

Depending on what access point that you have you can go further and start limiting when different IPs or MACs have access to network resources. Sorry Suzie-Q you should be asleep.

This is the biggest thing that I use for my home network security. I have it set up so easially now to add people into my list if needed. You can advertize your SSID and give out your passowrd all over but if you are not on the MAC list you cannot connect. It is a nice under emphasized feature.

Chris Haynes · 15th July 2006, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Apollyon

MAC = Media Access Control

I stand corrected... though it does seem dependent on each machine.

ohms · 16th July 2006, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by chasing23

This is the biggest thing that I use for my home network security. I have it set up so easially now to add people into my list if needed. You can advertize your SSID and give out your passowrd all over but if you are not on the MAC list you cannot connect. It is a nice under emphasized feature.

I wouldn't rely on setting an access control list as my main security as spoofing a MAC address is really quite easy. However as part of your overall security package (WPA/WEP, turn off SSID broadcast, use access control lists) it is quite handy.

Apollyon · 16th July 2006, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Hydrogen Cyanide

I stand corrected... though it does seem dependent on each machine.

You really weren't wrong, per se. There are quite a few PC pros that refer to it as machine access code or machine access control so there's a lot of conflicting info out there. Originally the acronym stood for media access control though.

Dark Jaguar · 18th July 2006, 06:47 PM

This is why I haven't bothered with stricter security, among other things.

Note: It's a DS, and there's only two models of it, functionally identical. Not a Gameboy (though it's made by the same people).

Back on topic, my DS and my PSP have certain limitations on what network security protocals they can work with, and they aren't alone. Further, if a guest shows up and wants to get online, I don't want to have to run to my computer to look up the special keycode and start the ever too slow process of inputting it on the user's laptop.

I really just want convenient seamless "always on" wireless access for my friends and family, and of course myself. So, I never bothered setting up a password protect or anything stricter. I don't live right by a pool though, so there's pretty much no risk of some hacker showing up within proximity and stealing all that is.

13th July 2006, 11:34 AM	#1
Senor_Pointy Fruity Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sideways Posts: 364	Wireless Security? Hello, everyone. About 4 months ago, I installed a wireless router on my parent's computer when they switched from dial-up to cable. There were no problems for a while, until the summer came, and people started coming to the town pool/park across the street from their house. At that point, I was home for the summer, and found that now people at the pool were connecting through their router. Even worse, they hadn't set a password, so someone completely turned off the security (or they hadn't enabled it in the first place). At this point, I went a little overboard, set a password that was 24 randomly generated characters long, and enabled WPA2, with a key that's 64 randomly generated hex digits long. Nobody's been able to get on it now, and I doubt they will. My problem is this: Ever since I turned the security back on, my brother's been complaining about not being able to get on the internet with his gameboy. I've tried to get it to work for him, but it will only apparently work if the router security is set on WEP. Is it worth the risk to lower the security? Or is there any way to get the gameboy (One of the dual screen ones) to work with WPA? Any help would be appreciated.

13th July 2006, 12:13 PM	#3
BenK Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 255	I have the same kind of problem with my router, though I've never actually used my gameboy in the Internet so I don't miss it. I had planed to buy this rather that lower my router security. Although I am assuming the USB device somehow only works with Nintendo devices, I could be wrong.
BenK Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 255

14th July 2006, 11:51 PM	#4
Chris Haynes Perfectly Poisonous Person Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wacky Washington Way Out West Posts: 4,204	First suggestion: read about the security settings available with the wireless router. We set the wireless access to only accept certain computers by editing the MAC list (MAC = machine access code... okay, just guessing the last one). It comes in handy when we need to restrict a child from the internet. We just delete their computer's MAC address from the list. Edit to add: a GAMEBOY!!! Sorry, I am not sure how this works with a Gameboy --- which to me is an irritating toy where litte expensive bits show up under chair cushions.
	__________________ I used to be intelligent... but then I had kids "HCN, I hate you!" ( so sayeth Deetee at http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=1077344 )... What I get for linking to http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/ Last edited by Chris Haynes; 14th July 2006 at 11:53 PM.

15th July 2006, 11:29 PM	#7
Chris Haynes Perfectly Poisonous Person Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wacky Washington Way Out West Posts: 4,204	Originally Posted by Apollyon MAC = Media Access Control I stand corrected... though it does seem dependent on each machine.
	__________________ I used to be intelligent... but then I had kids "HCN, I hate you!" ( so sayeth Deetee at http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=1077344 )... What I get for linking to http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/

16th July 2006, 06:40 AM	#8
ohms Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 441	Originally Posted by chasing23 This is the biggest thing that I use for my home network security. I have it set up so easially now to add people into my list if needed. You can advertize your SSID and give out your passowrd all over but if you are not on the MAC list you cannot connect. It is a nice under emphasized feature. I wouldn't rely on setting an access control list as my main security as spoofing a MAC address is really quite easy. However as part of your overall security package (WPA/WEP, turn off SSID broadcast, use access control lists) it is quite handy.
ohms Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 441	__________________ Long time lurker

13th July 2006, 12:10 PM	#2
Apollyon Muse Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orlando Posts: 942	WEP should be fine for security purposes to keep casual users at bay. For determined people with the proper skills, WEP or WPA won't matter anyway. Be sure to turn off SSID broadcasting as well. If people can't pick up the SSID broadcast they probably won't know a wireless network is in the area.

15th July 2006, 06:30 AM	#5
Apollyon Muse Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orlando Posts: 942	MAC = Media Access Control

15th July 2006, 08:11 PM	#6
chasing23 Scholar Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minneapoilis, MN Posts: 98	Originally Posted by Hydrogen Cyanide It comes in handy when we need to restrict a child from the internet. We just delete their computer's MAC address from the list. Depending on what access point that you have you can go further and start limiting when different IPs or MACs have access to network resources. Sorry Suzie-Q you should be asleep. This is the biggest thing that I use for my home network security. I have it set up so easially now to add people into my list if needed. You can advertize your SSID and give out your passowrd all over but if you are not on the MAC list you cannot connect. It is a nice under emphasized feature.

16th July 2006, 08:24 AM	#9
Apollyon Muse Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orlando Posts: 942	Originally Posted by Hydrogen Cyanide I stand corrected... though it does seem dependent on each machine. You really weren't wrong, per se. There are quite a few PC pros that refer to it as machine access code or machine access control so there's a lot of conflicting info out there. Originally the acronym stood for media access control though.

18th July 2006, 06:47 PM	#10
Dark Jaguar Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,666	This is why I haven't bothered with stricter security, among other things. Note: It's a DS, and there's only two models of it, functionally identical. Not a Gameboy (though it's made by the same people). Back on topic, my DS and my PSP have certain limitations on what network security protocals they can work with, and they aren't alone. Further, if a guest shows up and wants to get online, I don't want to have to run to my computer to look up the special keycode and start the ever too slow process of inputting it on the user's laptop. I really just want convenient seamless "always on" wireless access for my friends and family, and of course myself. So, I never bothered setting up a password protect or anything stricter. I don't live right by a pool though, so there's pretty much no risk of some hacker showing up within proximity and stealing all that is.