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Ahuacamolli
join:2001-11-30
Rancho Santa Fe, CA

1 edit

Ahuacamolli to HackedWEP

Member

to HackedWEP

Re: [Eng] Router was WEP cracked. $600 in overages. What can we

It seems to me that you are the victim of a theft. A theft most likely committed by someone who lives within 300 feet or so of your router. Given the amount of bandwidth consumed with a wireless connection to your router, that someone is probably even closer than 300 feet. Perhaps even someone you know.

Did you report the theft to your local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction? They just might have ongoing, or future investigation that could use your input/evidence. Without a lawful warrant, your provider can't/won't provide documentation they might have in the way of logs evidencing what MAC addresses were used to make connections on the internet via your router and internet service. Such a warrant would be a part of an investigation by law enforcement instigated by the filing of a report with law enforcement by you.

Some of the actions you can take to prevent such thefts in the future include:

1. Regularly changing your WEP password, and not using simple passwords
2. If your router has the ability to allow wireless connections from only approved MAC addresses, setup your router to only allow wireless connections from only those MAC addresses.
3. If you router allows you to maintain a log of connections made through your router, enable such logging, and check that log from time to time.
4. If your router provides a list of active connections, check that list whenever your internet connection seems to be slower than usual.
5. Turn off, or disconnect the power from your router when it's not in use.
6. Unless you access your router using wireless connections from outside your home, paint the walls of your home using paint that blocks wireless traffic. Think long and hard about this solution as it's difficult to remove the paint. And remember that windows and glass doors would remain unpainted.

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

said by Ahuacamolli:

Without a lawful warrant, your provider can't/won't provide documentation they might have in the way of logs evidencing what MAC addresses were used to make connections on the internet via your router and internet service.

1. Regularly changing your WEP password, and not using simple passwords

Why would the ISP see any other MAC address besides the device connected to his modem, which in this case was the router?

Also, do not use WEP at all, why even leave that as an option? He also admitted to having the security type changed to WEP, which, IMO is a mistake that cost him $600.
Tig
join:2006-06-29
Carrying Place, ON

Tig to Ahuacamolli

Member

to Ahuacamolli
said by Ahuacamolli:

6. Unless you access your router using wireless connections from outside your home, paint the walls of your home using paint that blocks wireless traffic. Think long and hard about this solution as it's difficult to remove the paint. And remember that windows and glass doors would remain unpainted.

Can you please post a link to this wireless blocking paint product. I'm intrigued.