[Slippers]

Seriously. I've had this Wireless Broadband Router sitting in the box for a year. I'm nervous about installing it. I have this irrational fear (or is it rational?) that I'll botch it up, and other people in my neighborhood will be able to use my internet connection and wreak havoc , or access my laptop, or whatever bad people do. I dunno.

Am I nuts? Don't answer that.

What I have is a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router. It says that it has "one touch set up with symantec security" and wi-fi protected access, and 128-bit WPA2 encryption. That all sounds good, right? (I assume that when I install the software, a year's worth of patches and updates will be downloaded.)

I need a techno geeky someone special to tell me that all will be fine and I have nothing to worry about.

Thank you!!

S

[sorrel]

I'm not a techno geeky anything. But I am apt to paranoia, and have a wireless router! If you encrypyt it, it's fine.
And Norton 360 helps.
As does Windows Firewall.

[gimmeice]

(((((((( slippers )))))))))))) You can password protect your connection, though I don't know how to do that. A good computer security program also helps, I use trend micro, it alerts me if someone tries to piggyback.

[sabby]

I also use a wireless and set it up myself going through the set up process with the router...very easy and you get the opportunity to password protect the signal.

You can also look up on line your linksys system and read all the pertinent info and how to's to help you through the set up process.

Good luck and enjoy your wireless!


sabby

[DocJohn]

Paranoia about wireless routers is not unwarranted, because the computer industry released its first wifi routers with a weak security encryption that was easily broken years ago.

Since that time, however, a new security protocol has been incorporated into all newer wireless routers and computers called WPA that is much harder to hack into (to the point that you're as protected as if you had a wired connection). As long as you use WPA security on the router you will be secured and safe.

My sister-in-law remains so paranoid about this concern that she insists the router be unplugged after every Internet use. Her children are less than pleased with this approach, naturally... I think it's healthy to have some paranoia about Internet security, but not to the point of inaction.

Keep in mind, most hackers aren't interested in a single random person's Internet access or account. So the actual risk is much smaller than most people realize.

Hope that helps...

DocJohn

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

Keep in mind, most hackers aren't interested in a single random person's Internet access or account.

Just yours. Especially if they can turn your system into a spambot.

[Slippers]

Thank you everyone!!

I mustered up some courage and a gave it a shot. Well....it's not working, but at least I tried! I have a friend coming over to see what I did wrong.

Next I need to work on my "rabbit ears" situation!

slippers

[DocJohn]

Yay! It's good you're trying it...!!

[sabby]

Good for you Slippers....I'm proud of you for trying. These things can be a bit difficult to get working sometimes. I'm having trouble at the moment getting another computer onto my network as well. I work on it for a bit then get frustrated so I back away for awhile. I'm sure I'll get there at some point and I hope you do too!


sabby