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Old 07-29-2009, 04:35 PM   #1
VanMan
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Wireless Router Question

Do you just leave your wireless router with USB device plugged in and on all the time? or just when you want to use it? Any fear of others using your WiFi?
 
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Old 07-29-2009, 04:58 PM   #2
slewis
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We leave our plugged in all the time, but have installed a security on it to avoid intruders.
Sandy
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Old 07-29-2009, 07:00 PM   #3
firetrucker
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We turn ours off at night, just out of habit. Fewer lights shining in the rig.

As slewis said, make sure you activate encryption mode WPA (not WEP) as a minimum. This keeps people from sitting close by and reading what you are sending, even if they aren't connected to your router.

We also activate MAC address filtering in the router. Every interface device has a unique address programmed into it by the manufacturer, usually displayed along with the model and serial number (it can also be accessed by a command from your computer). Any MAC address that is not entered into the router will not be able to access the router. This is not enough protection by itself...use encryption, too.

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Old 07-29-2009, 07:57 PM   #4
Art-n-Marge
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The last thing I recommend is you change the username and password of the router itself. If for some reason, someone is able to connect to your "network" they can then log into your router and change stuff.

Like Sandy and Bob mentioned here's some principal safeguards to "securing" your network:

1. Use an Encryption Method (key). This prevents the public from "borrowing" access on your router when it's up and running. The router will only allow computers that know your key to use your router. If you need help on how to do this let us know.
2. Log in to the router and set up the MAC addresses allowed use of your router.
3. Change the user name and password for the router itself. This prevents a lucky soul to bypass 1 and 2 and then edit any your router settings.

Don't forget to write down the Encryption method AND key in a safe place, just in case you want to allow someone temporarily to use your router, (relative, visitor). Also write down the new username and password of the router so you can access your router just in case you want to change the settings (like entering your guest's MAC address to allow them access.)

Since the odds of someone actually physically seeing my router are very slim, I wrote this information down on a small piece of paper and tape it to the underside of the router for safe keeping.

Leaving your router on or off does not hurt anything if you have these safeguards in place. However, firetrucker has a good idea to just turn it off at night, because hackers do their best work at night when they can park nearby and work undisturbed because they are not noticed and snoop networks, and attempt to hack whatever networks they can.

Good luck with your network.
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Old 07-30-2009, 01:40 AM   #5
ols1932
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by VanMan

Do you just leave your wireless router with USB device plugged in and on all the time? or just when you want to use it? Any fear of others using your WiFi?
Sometimes we leave our router on all the time. However we have Satellite Internet and we turn the modem off at night or when we're going to be away for any period of time. With encryption and using a good password (ours is 26 characters long -- no, it's not the alphabet!) it is not very likely that there will be anyone who can intrude.

Orv
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Old 07-30-2009, 02:18 AM   #6
Glenn and Lorraine
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When we are setup we do leave the router on 24/7 put it is password protected. Quite often, when we are at an MOC rally and our fellow MOC member does not have the Internet, we will give them the password. Even here at Avalon, our winter base, we give the password to a very chosen few.

YES, we do change the password quite often.
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Old 07-30-2009, 07:21 AM   #7
VanMan
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Thanks everyone!
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Old 07-30-2009, 08:26 AM   #8
sreigle
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VanMan, we leave ours plugged in all the time. We normally turn it off when we go to bed at night but otherwise it's on all the time, unless we're in a park with good wifi. Ours is password protected.
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