[DesignerTerp]

Finally! I am wireless! Last night we hooked up my D-Link Wireless Router (DI-624) to my dad's PC and then I have an airport card in my iBook.

Also, what security measures do we need to do to prevent people getting into our computers? My dad has a firewall on his PC, and I am running Jaguar. Is it ok to put it to sleep (I was under the impression that there is no network activity when it's sleeping) or should I turn it off?

Thanks guys--you all are a great help!!

[gatorparrots]

Originally posted by DesignerTerp:
Finally! I am wireless!

Unless you have some kind of unusual cybernetic implants/augmentation, you've probably always been wireless.

[DesignerTerp]

Originally posted by gatorparrots:
Unless you have some kind of unusual cybernetic implants/augmentation, you've probably always been wireless.

Yes I had the last of my wires removed yesterday. I am a real girl!

[wulf]

Originally posted by DesignerTerp:
Finally! I am wireless! Last night we hooked up my D-Link Wireless Router (DI-624) to my dad's PC and then I have an airport card in my iBook.

Also, what security measures do we need to do to prevent people getting into our computers? My dad has a firewall on his PC, and I am running Jaguar. Is it ok to put it to sleep (I was under the impression that there is no network activity when it's sleeping) or should I turn it off?

Yes it's fine to put it to sleep.

Your router probably provides basic firewalling for your network (although I'm not familiar with that model). You should probably turn on WEP, and use a strong password (that is, a long one that is not easy to guess). Once your network is up and running you shouldn't have to enter the password often (if at all). WEP is actually not a very strong encryption, but you might as well use it, if it's there...

For further protection you could look into adding MAC-address filtering, if your router supports it.

[DesignerTerp]

Originally posted by wulf:
Yes it's fine to put it to sleep.

Your router probably provides basic firewalling for your network (although I'm not familiar with that model). You should probably turn on WEP, and use a strong password (that is, a long one that is not easy to guess). Once your network is up and running you shouldn't have to enter the password often (if at all). WEP is actually not a very strong encryption, but you might as well use it, if it's there...

For further protection you could look into adding MAC-address filtering, if your router supports it.

Thanks--we disabled WEP b/c I didn't realize I had to set up the encryption as well. I found an article on how/where to do it in the Apple kBase.
I look into MAC-address filtering. Thanks!!

[ghporter]

Both WEP and MAC filtering are highly advised. WEP may not be foolproof, but it's better than nothing-the burglar that rattles doorknobs keeps looking for one that's unlocked, and leaves alone all the ones he finds locked. In essence, your data is safer because it's a lot of trouble to bother to break through WEP. Changing keys frequently, as in monthly or so, is advisable because the primary exploit against WEP reconstructs the key from intercepted wireless packets. If you change the key frequently enough, the intruder will have to spend a lot of time and effort to rebreak your key over and over, and theoretically he'll get frustrated and quit.

MAC filtering prevents outsiders from using your Internet connection without your permission-very, very important! There are stories of neighbors using other people's wireless networks for everything from sending spam to child porn trading. Either way, the owner of the connection is the one that gets the legal scrutiny.

[DesignerTerp]

Originally posted by GHPorter:
Both WEP and MAC filtering are highly advised. WEP may not be foolproof, but it's better than nothing-the burglar that rattles doorknobs keeps looking for one that's unlocked, and leaves alone all the ones he finds locked. In essence, your data is safer because it's a lot of trouble to bother to break through WEP. Changing keys frequently, as in monthly or so, is advisable because the primary exploit against WEP reconstructs the key from intercepted wireless packets. If you change the key frequently enough, the intruder will have to spend a lot of time and effort to rebreak your key over and over, and theoretically he'll get frustrated and quit.

MAC filtering prevents outsiders from using your Internet connection without your permission-very, very important! There are stories of neighbors using other people's wireless networks for everything from sending spam to child porn trading. Either way, the owner of the connection is the one that gets the legal scrutiny.

Sounds good--I can do MAC filtering on my router, so we will be using WEP and MAC filtering. Thanks!