hrickpa
join:2001-06-07
Reading, PA
 ·Covad Communications
·Verizon Online DSL
| wireless security I am having problems with someone trying to get my WPA2 key
some one had posted an ad on the internet that they were offering a $500 reward to the person to hack my WPA2 key.
The ad's were removed. I have been seeing people in a car across the street from where I live. when go outside they pull away This has been happening for a few days
on Friday April 24th some one rang my door bell, the person at my door wanted to give them my WPA2 key
i am using WPA2-PSK (AES).
the problem i have that the police here will not do anything.
in the city i live the highest crime is band-with theft and utility theft
Reading PA. | |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: wireless security I'm not sure what you can do about that. Even if your key is unbreakable, that won't stop people from camping out across the street and trying.
If it were me, I would probable get a 50 ft ethernet cable, and go wired for a while. I might also temporarily setup my WiFi with a bogus network that goes nowhere, and either leave it open or with an easy to break key.
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AT&T dsl; Westell 327w modem/router; openSuSE 11.0; firefox 3.0.8 | |
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KoRnGtL15
Premium
join:2007-01-04
Grants Pass, OR
1 edit | That is crazy! Never heard of some thing like that happening to some one. I would make sure you have a extremely strong key like from here.
»https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm
They could try all day and night. It would be near impossible. Just make sure the key is 63 random printable ASCII characters. Basically pick the middle is what I am saying. Also keep that pc clean! | |
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 | Reimer
join:2006-08-14
Toronto, ON
| Re: wireless security said by KoRnGtL15  :That is crazy! Never heard of some thing like that happening to some one. I would make sure you have a extremely strong key like from here. » https:// www.grc.com/passwords.htmThey could try all day and night. It would be near impossible. Just make sure the key is 63 random printable ASCII characters. Basically pick the middle is what I am saying. Also keep that pc clean! In addition to this, make sure you also don't fall for the FAKE access point trick. It's like phishing.. but for wireless keys.
What they do is set up an AP with an SSID similar to your own so that if you try to connect to your AP, you might accidently end up entering your WPA2 key into their AP instead.
So.. how to avoid this? Just be sure to look out for any times where you seem to get "kicked" off your wireless. You shouldn't have to ever re-enter your key.. but if it asks you for it, then you know something is up. | |
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DaMaGeINC
The Lan Man
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Greenville, SC
clubs: | Re: wireless security Hush!!!!!! | |
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Anav
Sarcastic Llama? Naw, Just Acerbic
Premium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS | Use A wifi, that will screw them up LOL.
I am curious as to how they knew
a. you had wifi
b. associated a specific SSID to your house or apartment?? | |
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Its a Secret
Whatever
Premium
join:2008-02-23
U B Funny
 ·Shaw
| Just for kicks and giggles, change your SSID to 'ur a n00b' or something silly to poke at them a bit...  Or, change your SSID, band, and tx levels daily. They won't know who is who. Don't forget to look out the window and laugh at them too!
Seriously, it sounds like you have good security in place, so the only thing to do is ride it out. nwrickert's idea of going wired for a bit is a good one. If you can't, just make sure your connection isn't shared via your computer's wireless. I've seen a few who have had this option on, and not know it.
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"In the future, that which is not mandatory will be illegal"
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better" - Anonymous | |
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docrice
join:2008-03-31
Fremont, CA
| Get something to shield your radio waves from going out of your home perimeter. Repoint your antennas inward. Then look outside, see who's parked in front trying to tap into your network, and call the mob to have them roughed up.
Layer 1 security. | |
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hrickpa
join:2001-06-07
Reading, PA
·Covad Communications
·Verizon Online DSL
| my SSID is a simple phrase it contains nothing about me at all. a few years ago i had found them using my wireless
WPA was not available at the time my old router was
linksys befw11s4 ver.4
I ended up moving the computer from the second floor to the third floor and using a wired connection.
I was confronted about it when I was outside one day.
neighbor saying "I had no right to disconnect them"
this was around april 2004 when this started.
a few months later the befw11s4 router stopped working
ended using a wired router for at least one year
no wireless. I got a new wireless router Linksys wrt54g ver.5. In 2006 I enabled the wireless because i had gotten a laptop. I used the same SSID but using WPA2 instead WEP.
My neighbors are saying that my SSID is insulting to them
there is nothing insulting about it.
I am thinking in going to 802.11a
there is no 802.11a around me
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Its a Secret
Whatever
Premium
join:2008-02-23
U B Funny
·Shaw
| Re: wireless security said by hrickpa :I was confronted about it when I was outside one day, neighbor saying "I had no right to disconnect them" Bwahahahahaha! Wow, that's the epitome of hubris, and self-entitlement!
What's your SSID? Just curious.
--
"In the future, that which is not mandatory will be illegal"
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better" - Anonymous | |
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| | hrickpa
join:2001-06-07
Reading, PA | Re: wireless security my SSID is No free loaders | |
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Its a Secret
Whatever
Premium
join:2008-02-23
U B Funny
·Shaw
| Re: wireless security said by hrickpa :my SSID is No free loaders I like it! I can see why they'd be 'insulted'. | |
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| | | | docrice
join:2008-03-31
Fremont, CA
| Re: wireless security What might also be entertaining is if you had an access point that could throw up multiple SSIDs at once, then you could reinforce the message with other network names, like:
- Stay off my network
- Do not steal my Wi-Fi
- You too cheap to get your own
- I read your packets
- Thou shall not steal
- Nothing to see - move along
I did this once (but with a message more along the lines of "secure your network") since a few of my neighbors were running completely open. | |
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DownTheShore
Maddie Knows Poopie
Premium
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ
clubs:
| Re: wireless security I thought about using a version of "nothing to see here" as my SSID when I set up my wireless router. But then I figured that there'd be some fool out there who'd see it as a challenge. 
My current SSID is quite innocuous and non-identifying. It really surprises me how many people use their first names as SSID's around my home. | |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: wireless security It really surprises me how many people use their first names as SSID's around my home. I notice that, too, around here.
I also use a nondescript name that in no way identifies the location. However, when I ran an open network (briefly, for experimenting), I used "Private, keep out" as the SSID.
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AT&T dsl; Westell 327w modem/router; openSuSE 11.0; firefox 3.0.8 | |
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| | | | | | | hrickpa
join:2001-06-07
Reading, PA | Re: wireless security I seen someone in my area has his e-mail address as his SSID | |
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| | | | | | | | hrickpa
join:2001-06-07
Reading, PA | Re: wireless security My SSID is changed and is hidden.
and used the grc site to create a new WPA key
I still have people trying
hopefully they will give up soon or I will use 802.11a
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Its a Secret
Whatever
Premium
join:2008-02-23
U B Funny
·Shaw
| Re: wireless security Who cares if they try? If you're using a 63 character ASCII PW, it won't matter. At this point, the only thing they could try is a DoS attack on you, but that likely would get them nowhere as your ISP would bounce it.
My advice: stop worrying.
--
"In the future, that which is not mandatory will be illegal"
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better" - Anonymous | |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
|  Re: wireless security
said by Its a Secret :Who cares if they try? If you're using a 63 character ASCII PW, it won't matter. At this point, the only thing they could try is a DoS attack on you, but that likely would get them nowhere as your ISP would bounce it. My advice: stop worrying. Right on brother...
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience | |
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jon9090
@sbcglobal.net
 from:
SoonerAl
| Hiding your ssid can cause more problems than solve. | |
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edzrdg
| Re: wireless security I understand that hiding the SSID does not do much for security but in a Public School enviroment it is a bit of a help when Kids can't see it. My big concern is blocking it on the the teachers PCs so a kid can't find it by sneaking a look at one of the teacher PCs.
Does anyone know of a way of hiding the SSID on a PC that has the rights and connection to the network? | |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| Re: wireless security said by edzrdg :
I understand that hiding the SSID does not do much for security but in a Public School enviroment it is a bit of a help when Kids can't see it. My big concern is blocking it on the the teachers PCs so a kid can't find it by sneaking a look at one of the teacher PCs.
Does anyone know of a way of hiding the SSID on a PC that has the rights and connection to the network?
What's the point? If they don't have the network encryption key their SOL anyway.
You certainly do need to make sure the teacher PCs are configured with strong passwords, etc to prevent unauthorized access. The free MSFT SteadyState tool would also work for that, ie. locking down those PCs.
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience | |
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Anav
Sarcastic Llama? Naw, Just Acerbic
Premium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS | Change your SSID as well. Why on earth you would use the same essid is beyond me. Maybe you like the abuse. | |
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yock
TFTC
Premium
join:2000-11-21
Fairfield, OH | A reward for hacking the key? People approaching you in your home about it? What the hell is going on here? What exactly do you have available on your network that is worth so much? | |
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PeteC2
Got Mouse?
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
clubs:
·AT&T Yahoo
| Re: wireless security No offense, hrickpa, but you do not have a security issue at all. You indeed appear to have sime kind of issues with your neighbors...it happens, and yes, the police will be slow to stick their noses in it (wisely for them!)
First, who cares what your SSID is? Frankly, though it is none of their business, why not just change the damn thing to something that doesn't bother them? I know, it is childish on their part, but so what? Life is short, and you can't ever win with the crazies out there...some battles aren't worth the angst.
If some idiot actually rang my doorbell and asked for my encryption key...after I stopped laughing in his/her face...I would offer to sell it to them for $500...then promptly change it  That is so silly as to not even bother emoting over!
I hate to say it, really I do, but based on what you have posted, I surmise that some locals find that "yanking your chain" is easy to do, so they simply couldn't resist...the less that you react, the less "fun" it will be for them.
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Deeds, not words | |
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DaMaGeINC
The Lan Man
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Greenville, SC
clubs: | For people like me, its just... well, free! Drink all you can! Get your shit at 2-4MB/s and still upping at 900KB while your hosting a vent server and gaming. | |
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| | docrice
join:2008-03-31
Fremont, CA | Re: wireless security You could also set up an SSID that reads:
Virus Test Net - Use at own Risk | |
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eastonhockey
your RF is showing
join:2002-10-30 | If I knew people were actively trying to break into my wireless network i would just disable all my APs.
Just my 2 cents. | |
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