OT: new computer for eldest daughter

[DavidG]

Originally posted by SpaceBadger:
OK, I can see I need to study up on this wireless stuff, because I don't think I'm understanding what y'all are saying. I kinda thought it was some little gadget that would go in place of a regular network card, with a little radio in it to communicate to a base unit, and the base unit would have a newtwork card that I'd connect up to our LAN. If I'm understanding y'all, the wireless part is actually a little network all by itself, whcih I then connect to our LAN? Time for more reading.

I think you got it right. I believe what you need is a wireless router. This can be hooked up to your existing network. Than any PC with a wirless network card will connect to the router.

[geoschmo]

Assuming you already have a router for your exsisting LAN, like you would get with a DSL or cable hookup, and assuming the router has an open network jack available, what you are looking for is what's called a wireless access point. In effect it's how you described it, the access point jacks up to the LAN via standard network patch cord, and communicates directly with the wireless NIC card in your laptop. The limit is gonna be about 1000' feet under ideal conditions, less in the real world. Going through walls, etc, cuts down on the distance the signal can travel. Unless you have a neighbors house closer then that you shouldn't have any concern with squatters, but as Narrew says there are ways to eliminate any possibility of that. The software to do that will most likely come with the access point.

Geoschmo

[Jack Simth]

Originally posted by Narrew:
when you set up the wireless box, you will have the option to set up who can access it, I would suggest you use MAC address authorizing. Every network card has a unique MAC address so any unknown MAC address will be denied access to your wireless network.

MAC addresses are set uniquely by most manufactuers, but the hardware usually supports later alterations on them, and they can be read off of the wireless network by anyone with the right software and the appropriet hardware. With MAC address restrictions, someone driving by with their laptop open is very unlikely to accidentally tap into your network that way, but if someone really wants to, they can. You can find a little more info on it here, if you like.

[Puke]

You are correct that the wireless device is the combination of a wireless NIC and a base station, that interface to your network. It is also correct that this opens up what can be thought of as an additional wireless network, that anyone may access.

Listen to Jack, he knows what hes talking about. MAC authentication does not do squat against a determined attacker. Newer wireless devices that support protocols other than 802.11b often have the option to use time based key protocols, that shuffle their authentication keys every few seconds (like most good IPSEC implementations). One example of such a protocol is TKIP. There are a handfull of them, mostly manufacturer specific, that each have their ups and downs.

Regarding range, regardless of the range of the base station, people can access from miles away using sensitive recievers and strong transmitters. Range cant save you, as such things can be made on the cheap with radioshack electronics and pringles cans.

Unfortuneatly, there are no easy answers for home wireless Users. there are more detailed answers for companies that have the time and money to spend protecting their network, but those solutions are largely outside of most peoples means. in terms of effort vs reward, if not in terms of money.

personal firewall software is ubiquitious these days, and that should be "good enough" to protect your home PCs. if you take the best security precautions that you are able, you will probably discourage most casual intruders. which is probalby good enough.

[Ruatha]

One idea about restricting the net would be to "post-police".
Tell her that she has access to all of the net, but that you'll check the logs from time to time and check what sites she's visited, and if you find any thing you don't think is appropriate discuss it.
This way you'll get alot of subjects to discuss
Before letting her out on the net give her a crash course on bad sites, what to avoid and what to close immediatly if she accidently strolls into the wrong place.
And install a pop-up stopper!!!

[SpaceBadger]

Thanks for the info, y'all. I've talked this over with her and she is being amazingly (and unusually ) reasonable in adjusting her wishes, and we've now dropped the wireless idea and may even be dropping the laptop in favor of a nice desktop PC.

I still have the internet access problem to deal with eventually, but it is not quite as pressing as the need for her own computer.

Thanks for your help.

SpaceBadger

[Wardad]

My computer crashed Last week.

I think my History Kill privacy program (and popup stopper) attacked my Norton Internet Security program.

I usually power off not log off, but it was late and I choose to log off instead. Of course I stopped and canceled (win98), and the system started to setup Start Menu and the bar programs again. That is when History kill attacked. I could never get norton to work right again, and I could not delete it either.

To be fair, I can say that after 4~5 years, Win98 may not have been perfectly stable on boot up. Maybe, I should have taken the time to exempt the Norton cookies from History Kill.

So I partioned and reformated my hard drive. I now have a small 5GB partion for the operating system and security programs. It won't be such a hassle or loss next time I have to reinstall the operating system or security programs.

[ November 11, 2003, 23:23: Message edited by: Wardad ]