[Mallrat]

I'm new to airport. I think I figured it out though. I did create my own Network, give it a name and a password to protect it. I'm using it on my iMac (extreme) and iBook (aiport) using the Airport Express Station.

• Will setting passwords protect me enough from someone trying to steal files on my computer?

I mean, if they do somehow get my password, what can they do? Just surf the web? Do I need to active SHARING for them to steal any personal information? I worried about someone stealing or being able to steal personal info. Any tips would on preventing that would be great.

• When you put a computer to sleep. does Airport shutoff? I notice that it comes right back on after putting it to sleep unless I shut it off before hand.

Thanks for your time.

[The Oracle]

use a strong password to access the airport station's network.

also turn on 128 bit encryption.

the first will restrict access to only those who know your password.
The second will prevent others from seeing the wireless traffic. So even if someone intercepts all the data that travels through the air, they can't read it because it's encrypted.

[Mallrat]

Originally posted by The Oracle:
use a strong password to access the airport station's network.

also turn on 128 bit encryption.

the first will restrict access to only those who know your password.
The second will prevent others from seeing the wireless traffic. So even if someone intercepts all the data that travels through the air, they can't read it because it's encrypted.

I did that. thanks. Of course I have no idea what a STRONG password means, but I did use one that I could remember.

[kampl]

WEP-128 and WEP-64 are fairly trivial to break with today's tools.

Explanation

WEP deters random people from associating with your AP. If someone wants to get on a WEP network it can be done fairly easy. MAC address filtering adds another layer of difficulty but can be defeated with ettercap and the like, or just changing your MAC after gleaning a list of allowed addresses after monitoring traffic.

WEP helps, but an 802.1x protocol is better and really it all depends on how secure you want your now radio broadcasting data to be.

[Mallrat]

Originally posted by kampl:
WEP-128 and WEP-64 are fairly trivial to break with today's tools.

Explanation

WEP deters random people from associating with your AP. If someone wants to get on a WEP network it can be done fairly easy. MAC address filtering adds another layer of difficulty but can be defeated with ettercap and the like, or just changing your MAC after gleaning a list of allowed addresses after monitoring traffic.

WEP helps, but an 802.1x protocol is better and really it all depends on how secure you want your now radio broadcasting data to be.

Thanks for the article. I'm learning that WEP is not bad, but if someone wants to, they can crack into your Network.

I still have a few questions that I haven't wrapped my brain around.

I have 2 computers. My iMac is where I set up my network, and I have my ibook which joined my network. Is my ibook's data LESS SECURE than my imac or the same? Should I not make credit card purchases on my ibook, but instead use my imac? Or are they the same since they are using the same network that I created?

If a cracker does break in, what can they read? All my e-mails? My credit card info that I send over the Internet? I mean they aren't actually in my computer, they can just read files I send over airport (which I guess would include e-mail/internet activiity/ims). I don't want someone stealing my personal info (I assume their main goal), but I'm more worried about them stealing an idea I have that I sent to a friend via e-mail (I'm a writer). What do you think these creackers are looking for? SSN and the like? Identify theft is their goal?

I guess my question is how much more vulerable am I to theft using airport versus using a direct connection to my computer? I mean I was vulerable before right, just not as much?

Besides having a strong password, using WEP-128bit protection, and chaning the password frequently, what else would you recommend? Using a firewall?

And finally, are Apple computer's less vulerable than PC's to this issue?

Thank you.

[Forte]

Originally posted by rushmore:
I did that. thanks. Of course I have no idea what a STRONG password means, but I did use one that I could remember.

A 'strong password' is just a term used to mean "a password that is difficult for others to guess/break".