Security of my wireless network

[Smurfatefrog]

I've got an Ad Hoc network set up between my desktop & laptop, both XP Pro SP3

I am using a Static WEP key for the network and using CCProxy to share my V3G connection. File sharing is only music files so are just read only, my main concern though is the internet. Is this fairly secure? CCProxy allows access to certain preset IP addresses, i have just used the standard 192.168.0.?, would it be more secure if i used something different?

 

[Sackboy]

Yes, WEP has been cracked and IP addresses can be spoofed.

Use WPA PSK and turn SSD off once you have tested the connection.

 

[andres101]

WEP encryption can be cracked within minutes using freely available software. I doubt that there are many people out there currently cracking WiFi networks, but I'm sure viruses will start doing it soon.

WPA is more secure as long as you don't use dictionary works as your key. I do remember reading somewhere that WPA has been cracked though.

AFAIK, WindowsXP only supports WEP for Ad-Hoc networks. I cannot enable WPA on my notebook for ad-hoc networking. If you want to use WPA, you will have purchase a wireless access point with WPA support. some wireless cards/drivers support running the card as an access point, which you could also try.

If you don't want to purchase a dedicated wireless access point or if you are really paranoid about security, you should set up a VPN connection between the two pc's. A correctly set up VPN should be more secure than WPA. Have a look at OpenVPN. It is free and there are many tutorials available online. let me know if you need any assistance with it.

Your IP address is irrelevant for security. Someone able to crack WEP knows how to determine your IP range.

Yes, WEP has been cracked and IP addresses can be spoofed.

IP address does not need to be spoofed. You can just configure it in your network properties. I think you are thinking of your MAC address, which can be spoofed.

Use WPA PSK and turn SSD off once you have tested the connection.

I think you mean SSID. This option is only available on access points and not on ad-hoc networks.

 

[Smurfatefrog]

AFAIK, WindowsXP only supports WEP for Ad-Hoc networks. I cannot enable WPA on my notebook for ad-hoc networking. If you want to use WPA, you will have purchase a wireless access point with WPA support. some wireless cards/drivers support running the card as an access point, which you could also try.

Thanks for your help
That does seem to be the case. I cant enable WPA if i create an Ad Hoc network.

So at the moment with what i have its as safe as it can get, i think I'll take my chances with it for now, i monitor my bandwidth usage very carefully as it is and will turn off the network when i dont need it

I was using Netmeter to monitor internet usage on the laptop but now i get all the network traffic as well, anyone know if theres a monitor out there that can just measure internet traffic and not all traffic through the network?

 

[ToxicBunny]

DuMeter should be able to monitor all traffic on a specific network card.. which would be your 3G connection.

 

[.Froot.]

Wireless networks aren't all that safe, but we all use it, so the best we can do is to set it up as securely as possible. If the people you don't want to give access to your network doesn't have access to pc's on your network, then you don't have to worry about MAC spoofing. Maybe using an IP range other than 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x will be a good idea too- most networks use that.
WEP is pretty insecure and has been cracked. WPA has been cracked too, but is still more secure than WEP. Use the best you can on your network.

 

[andres101]

you can also lower the transmit power of your wireless adapters (if the PC's are in close proximity).