Wireless Spying??

[SEEKER]

Hi, all ...sorry my English is a little bad but i hope u understand me...I use a speedtouch router and im using Ethernet Cable,i have the Username and password (the Admin), and some ppl on my wireless network share the internet connection with me ...and the question is... can anyone on my wireless network spy on or steal my Files without me knowing? ps.(i dont accept any files/programs from them)

 

[sekcy]

your english is fine. and your answer is yes.

 

[Seeking]

If you login to the router, and enable WPA encryption on your wireless, then all computers that wish to connect to the router will have to enter the password that you set.This will protect your files from 99% of hackers

 

[seesunsuf]

yes

 

[seednaymus]

You can never have enough security. Yes, you are at risk, so be aware and use preventions such as router for added security. If you encrypt your important documents that is also a good preventative technique.

 

[sectionhand]

They may be able to by virtue of being on the same local network as your machine. Here's a few tips to make your machine more secure:1. Don't have any directories set up as Shared. 2. Put a password on your login. Even better, for everyday use, use another login that doesn't have Administrator rights. Keep a second username with Administrator rights, in addition to the official Administrator one, just in case you need it. Password protect it. Write down the password. (I know, that's not the conventional wisdom, but since this is in your own space, the odds of someone reading it are probably less than you needing it and having forgotten it.)3. As with any wireless network, take some steps to protect it from people you haven't authorized to use it:1.Change your SSID from the default. Hackers know that routers come with default SSIDs and look for them.2.Turn off the SSID broadcast from the router. There's no need to advertise your network's presence. You're not running a hotspot; everyone who should be on your network should know its name.3.Deactivate wireless access to your router's administration web pages so only a computer connected via an Ethernet cable can reach them. This won’t affect wireless use of the Internet, just wireless access to the administration pages. Even if you don’t want to leave a computer connected via a cable, leave the cable there for when you need it. Here are some horror stories of people who didn't:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070906150226AA92P33http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070925102803AAPaZcL4.Set up encryption with an encryption key. The longer, the better.5.Limit access to only the computers you want on the network via MAC filtering. (MAC refers to unique NIC (Network Interface Card) addresses, not Macintosh computers, and not IP addresses.) This isn't a defense against hardcore freeloaders -- it's possible to fake MAC addresses -- but it keeps out casual interlopers.6.Change the range of and/or limited the number of automatically assigned IP addresses (DHCP) to reduce the chance of extra users. Again, hackers know what ranges routers come from the factory with. Changing them makes it a little harder to hop on board.Hope that helps.