<p>We typically have 4 ~ 8 computers and/or phones connected to our wireless router. Because of some unimportant reasons, we left it open. DS got home today and found there are 5 additional MAC addresses on our router. Apparently, our neighbors have been using our internet for free. No wonder our net speed has been slow. </p>
<p>Let’s just hope these 5 are actually our neighbors (one of MAC address has a neighbor’s name). Because we just filed out CSS profiles and our taxes on line. </p>
<p>We are calling the credit services to put a block on our SSN tomorrow.</p>
<p>DadII…go ahead and deal with your SS number if that will put your mind at ease BUT also…PLEASE secure your wireless network. PLEASE. Make it so that others are not able to just drive down the road and use YOUR wireless connection. Run your virus scans, make sure you have a decent Firewall…and secure your wireless network.</p>
<p>For the life of me, I cannot think of any reason why you would have left this as an open wireless network. It’s just not a good idea.</p>
<p>I had mine open for the longest time and - reciprocally, lol - would sometimes use open networks when out and about. This was quite a while ago.</p>
<p>Recently heard of someone whose home was visited by police due to downloading of child porn on their computer. Wasn’t them; was someone using their open network. Could be an Urban Myth - but it would be enough to make me secure my network if I hadn’t already.</p>
<p>Does your employer provide all those electronics?? I thought you just got your first, very basic, non-data plan cellphone. What other phones would be on a wireless router?? If the kids are off at school, why are there so many electronics running at your home? Sounds very costly</p>
<p>I cannot tell a lie–when we didn’t have a router and the kids were on the one computer connected to the internet, I could get a signal from our neighbors’ router on my netbook if I was in the north side of the house…and there were times when I sought some comfort there, as Simon & Garfunkel would sing…</p>
<p>They have since password protected their network upon my advice (after we got our router).</p>
<p>It took me six hours to setup our home network for wireless many years ago - I was using networking products from a variety of vendors and they all had different ways of doing the security keys so I can understand why many would leave their networks unsecured. I would hope that it’s easier to do today but I’m sure that there are a variety of security options and the customer still has to choose and configure the router and their various devices.</p>
<p>There are a few unsecured wireless routers in my neighborhood including my next-door neighbor. I told him before that his router was unsecured a while ago but he didn’t do anything about it.</p>
<p>Hunt-Had the same problem when I helped my BIL set up his wireless. I had him write down all pertinent information as we went through the setup. He recently got a Kindle and called me for his password to his wireless. He had never written it down and I had no clue what it was! After racking my brain I told him to try his phone number as that is what we used on our old router; sure enough it was his phone number! </p>
<p>My new router came with a 10 digit SSID number and we just continue to use that one, although each time someone comes over or we have to reset a computer, we go running to the router where the number is printed on the bottom. The 10 digit phone number would be easier to remember ;)</p>
<p>“Best thing is to put a post-it note on the router with the security key.”
Great advice. works like a charm in our house.
In addition to having our network secured, we also turn everyhing off when not in use. I do not know if this has been mentioned, but it is generally not a good idea to use your last name or house number as your network ID. There is no reason why you can’t call it something random, like puppywuppy.</p>
<p>My IT guy at work was fixing some networking issues, and tidying up all of my network connection “locations” (I’m on a Mac). He asked about our home network setup, and then told me that our 8 year old router needed to be replaced with something that offered better security. I love the Apple routers–incredibly easy to set up and secure. We now have both a family network and a guest network, both secured. </p>
<p>BCEagle, thanks for the post-it idea. I don’t forget the passwords, but if I get hit by a truck then the rest of my family will have to reset everything.</p>
<p>When my airport is on- it also looks at other networks, the names are pretty hilarious.</p>
<p>I don’t actually have mine set up yet but I have a mifi, that I can use for supplemental internet- ( which I am dumping as soon as I get a new phone) otherwise I use the ethernet- unlike Dad II ,we only have one computer hooked up anyway. </p>
<p>Then I guess I would have to call it emmykittywitty ;)</p>
<p>*Because we just filed out CSS profiles and our taxes on line. </p>
<p>We are calling the credit services to put a block on our SSN tomorrow.*</p>
<p>what kind of OS are you running?
( was I wrong to think you were a computer engineer?)</p>
<p>In the system preferences for mac- there is a security option icon. ( it is in the top row- under personal)
You can de/select firewall, encryption, fire vault, passwords all sorts of stuff with one click.</p>
<p>Thank heavens for unsecured networks. Every time I went up to take care of my (now late) dad and stayed at his house, I had to…err… “borrow” wifi from someone’s unsecured network. My dad had dial-up but his computer got so old the programs wouldnt even load. I was finally able to close down his dial-up (he was one of those old folks paying $10-12/mo for AOL dial-up that he didn’t use. We didn’t cancel it-- we just converted it to free wireless (so I can still check his account if I need to). The wifi was spotty and inconsistent at best, but it was better than having to constantly run to Starbucks.</p>
<p>Sooo DadII, why so many electronics at your house? Who uses all that, if the kids are at school?</p>
<p>@BC Eagle - we move seasonally and in one place turn in the router each time and get a new one. Last few times, the router comes WEP/WPA protected (whether we like it or not, lol - don’t know whether I could undo that).</p>
<p>The router at our other house has the network key right on the bottom - love that. Although I keep it with other similar stuff on my Blackberry - we have a lot of visitors and all want the key pronto.</p>
<p>Question - how does DadII see who else is using his network? I’ve never noticed that info on my computer/don’t know how to look for it.</p>
works like a charm in our house.