Here is the sad part, I read awhile back (Can't find the dang story now darn it) that the vast majority of home private networks don't even enable the password function.
Further, the majortiy of folks who setup a home network using Microsoft use MSHOME (the default) as the network name and no passoword. Put those two together with the above story and consider the implications.
In other words you don't have to be a hacker, just someone who knows how to connect to a wireless network and then knows the default for a home network name is MSHOME.
Bango you are now into someone's network and can SEE their computers if they have them on. If they have file sharing enabled you can look around and even dump files onto their comps.
True. My neighbor asked me to set up her wireless network and when I turned everything on I found three unprotected networks nearby that had top signal strengths. Two of them were her next door neighbors.
I told them about what I found and about three months later as I went to fix a small problem with her system I found that none of them had secured their networks!
I run my home with Cat5 and run only wired hardware. I am paranoid but at least I am somewhat safe.
Thanks Mad Dawgg. That’s pretty much my perception as well. And it should provide a massive “OUT” for any person providing there is an authority willing to listen to reason. I will say that if the FBI wants to verify a guy is really into this stuff, it should be possible for them to verify it if they were willing to spend the time to do it the right way.
I’m not against taking this sort of thing down. I do not like the idea of government setting up situtations to entrap people.
There are probably enough sites out there that are real, to allow the FBI to find out who is tapping in frequently. And those folks should be taken to task.
I have set up my computer router properly, but I agree that there are many out there who probably don’t.