Wireless must have tools

[weeble19]

What the tools you must have if you have wireless LAN ?

I have net-stumbler and GFI lan guard.

Please advise.

[webnx]

another question, I assume you locked it down good on the hardware side? mac address locking and atleast wep? If done right wireless can be pretty secure.

Dan

[Ingoal]

Define "must have"-tools...

the tools i need are: driver for the wlan-card and that's it.

If you want to snoop around etc net-stumbler which you already mentioned...and that's about it (professional wlan-mapping tools etc are overkill price wise, so no need to bother with that, except if you want to generate a map of your wifi-enabled space...)

Ingo

[mcd]

How much greater risk is there associated with wireless compared to wired?

[Dan Morgan]

What exactly does net-stumbler do that XP + a wireless card doesn't do already?

Ta,

Dan

[Ingoal]

What exactly does net-stumbler do that XP + a wireless card doesn't do already?

Ta,

Dan

Depending on your wireless driver/utility (UI) it'll do much more:
Show all available networks sorted by SSID, (un)encrypted, etc

How much greater risk is there associated with wireless compared to wired?

Well, to get physical access (direct access to your network) you will need to plug your computer into the router/hub/switch - in contrast you can get that with wireless by just standing infront of the building

Both have the same level of security when it comes to remote threats (via internet)...

[ChrisRoss]

Well, to get physical access (direct access to your network) you will need to plug your computer into the router/hub/switch - in contrast you can get that with wireless by just standing infront of the building

Well it should be said that its not as easy as getting access sitting in front of your house. You can password protect your wireless network and no one will even try to get on. A simple password like "bird43" could take months to crack, so if you see a mini van in your driveway for a month... someone really want to have a look at your network.

Also even it was guessed or cracked they still can't get on your computer unless its wide open.

[Ingoal]

Well it should be said that its not as easy as getting access sitting in front of your house. You can password protect your wireless network and no one will even try to get on. A simple password like "bird43" could take months to crack, so if you see a mini van in your driveway for a month... someone really want to have a look at your network.

Also even it was guessed or cracked they still can't get on your computer unless its wide open.

Hehe...indeed, it can be difficult, but tbh in most cases it isn't (I was referring to unprotected Wireless-networks)....errors to avoid/steps to take:

1. Change the SSID ("name" of your Access Point or Router)
2. Turn on the invisibility option of your AP/Router (if applicable)
3. Passwort-protect your AP
4. Use WEP or WPA to "protect" your communication
5. Employ MAC-filtering (only addresses in the list can have access)
6. Place your AP/Router in a way that the net is good inside your used space and bad outside of your flat/house/room (where applicable)

Side note: if you employ at least some of those hints you should be fine and keep most "war-drivers" or script-kiddies away, nontheless an expert with enough time can breach your security...it's just a matter of time...

Bottom Line: if you want to have (relative) "total security" (so that an attacker would need an enormous amount of time and computing power) you gotta use a VPN-connection...

Also even it was guessed or cracked they still can't get on your computer unless its wide open.

True, although if one is trying to get access (not to surf the net for free) and (s)he can breach your security chances are they know the newest buffer overflow and what not stuff, too...: unprotected network <-> pc not totally uptodate (security wise) = not too far out...


Ingo