Concerned about "Piggybackers".

GratuitousViolet · 01-03-2010, 09:37

Lately I've been noticing some disturbing "changes" in my connectivity on my wireless laptop and my mothers desktop PC. We're both experiencing supicious frequent losses of connectivity between the hours of 7-8am, 3-6pm and 9-12pm. I have a really horrible feeling someone has hacked into our wireless network and might be piggybacking on our connection and downloading but am absolutely too novice to know where to begin in looking it up.

What's the best "guide" to check the modem logs (or whatever they would be called) for a girl who isn't even moderately intermediate with wireless networking? I really want to get this sorted out and find out if it's true because the connection is shocking and on 10mb it shouldn't take twenty minutes to download a 2.4mb png file. Can't even stream movies from lovefilm without having to buffer every ten seconds...

darkm · 01-03-2010, 09:58

lol....

What security do you currently have for your wireless?
What you will want to use is ~WPA2, have a difficult password, nothing easy to guess.
Your network should be set up with static ip's, with Mac access only.

For checking logs etc you will need to log into the router...for example netgear routers are routerlogin.net and it should be easy enough to navigate through the menu's...

**Graham M** · 01-03-2010, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkm

Your network should be set up with static ip's, with Mac access only.

Should it? Mine isn't.

superbiatch · 01-03-2010, 10:11

This is just a general rant and by no means directed at the OP.

But i still can't believe how many people still have no security on their wireless networks! It doesn't take a genius to set security up

**Rob** · 01-03-2010, 10:15

What router make and model do you have? If we know that we may be able to locate a guide that will walk you through setup of wireless security.

**Graham M** · 01-03-2010, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

This is just a general rant and by no means directed at the OP.

But i still can't believe how many people still have no security on their wireless networks! It doesn't take a genius to set security up

Well if you can do it...

Aragorn · 01-03-2010, 10:22

to CF
I would have though it unlikely that even if someone were borrowing your wireless that they would cripple to desktop as well. More likely an ISP issue - are you on Virgin or an ADSL line (connected to a BT phone socket).
First thing - do you know what make / model of router?
Second - what version of Windows on the two PC's?

Spectato · 01-03-2010, 10:41

Exactly.
It's much more likely to be a service related issue.
"Horrible feelings" aren't really a good basis for troubleshooting a problem.

A better place to start would be to connect your modem and PC directly (ie. No router) and take some speed measurements, compare that to what's happening with router included.
At which point, chances are, you'll probably discover that you're in a congested/over-subscribed area, just the like the rest of us!

Get some help setting up your router's security properly anyway, then you shouldn't need to worry about that.
You may need to take care of some stuff like updating the router's firmware and your operating system's ability to handle the latest security protocols (WPA), depending on how new/old/up-to-date your set-up is.
Or it might be as simple as changing a few settings and entering a few numbers.

There's a gargantuan amount of information out here in WWW land.
You can get started by typing something like "router security' or 'router configuration' into Google!

Ed2020 · 01-03-2010, 11:51

Perhaps the first thing we need to clarify is what the OP means by "loss of connectivity". Connectivity between PCs and the router? The router and the modem? The modem and the outside world?

I'm confused because there is also mention of a slow connection (which is definitely not a loss of connection)...

Ed

xpod · 01-03-2010, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkm

lol....

What security do you currently have for your wireless?
What you will want to use is ~WPA2, have a difficult password, nothing easy to guess.
Your network should be set up with static ip's, with Mac access only.

For checking logs etc you will need to log into the router...for example netgear routers are routerlogin.net and it should be easy enough to navigate through the menu's...

It`s been said many times before but hiding & restricting Mac addresses etc is completely pointless if you do have some naughty neighbour determined to access your network.
The WPA/2 with as long and complicated a password as possible is about the only thing stopping a determined piggybacker. The rest is probably as much use as WEP and that`s about as useful as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

This is just a general rant and by no means directed at the OP.

But i still can't believe how many people still have no security on their wireless networks! It doesn't take a genius to set security up

I can still empathise with many of those who dont have a clue but when they`ve used computers and internet for years & years though then they need the proverbial slap with a big wet fish.

**Kymmy** · 01-03-2010, 11:58

In the router pages there should be an ATTACHED devices or equiv. That should tell anyone if there is a user attaching themselves to your network.

The modem log itself won't show you anything apart from if the modem is losing the whole connection.. You could try posting the log (MAC/Serials removed) and the up/down power levels with the SNR level.

It could be anything from someone using your wireless to a faulty connection to simple over subscription.. checking/posting what I've asked should help the guys on here help at least point you in the right direction.

Ed2020 · 01-03-2010, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkm

Your network should be set up with static ip's, with Mac access only.

MAC filtering and static IPs provide virtually no security except to prevent only casual borrowing of somebody's bandwidth. Somebody who knows what they're doing will work around these security measures in no time at all.

If WPA/WPA2 is turned on then MAC filtering and static IPs are unnecessary (for security purposes at least).

Ed

oliver1948uk · 01-03-2010, 12:04

It could be as innocent as the person next door has a wireless router using the same channel as GratuitousViolet but only turns it on when required, usually during the times stated in the first post.

A change of channel would soon check this out.

Waldo Pepper · 01-03-2010, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by oliver1948uk

It could be as innocent as the person next door has a wireless router using the same channel as GratuitousViolet but only turns it on when required, usually during the times stated in the first post.

A change of channel would soon check this out.

That was my first thought. The wireless channels are very heavily loaded these days with practically every house having Internet and most being none technical prefer wireless and don't want to be bothered running wires erverywhere. .

Try downloading (for free) Xirrus WiFi inspector.

http://www.xirrus.com/library/downlo...Setup1.0.1.exe

It will show your wireless neighbours and the channel they are using. Check at these busy periods to see who pops up and move channel away from them. There are 13 in total (I think).

If as you say you are not familiar with wireless, then I can guess you took it out of the box and it worked. As a result you may have:

1) No encryption switched on.

2) Have left it (like many others) on the default channels of 13 for most routers - hence you are literally not alone on channel 13.

Hope that is some help.
WTP

darkm · 01-03-2010, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham M

Should it? Mine isn't.

Static ip as in, assign ip's through your router to each mac. Yes Virgin use dynamic which rarely changes anyway but with the router options use a lan ip setup with Mac address filtering as well.

Wpa/2 is secure with a good password. For the casual "piggybacker" your network will be secure. Mac address filtering is good to have, Yes you could clone a mac and kick people off their network but for the ordinary fools around you this will not be done. A vast amount of people "piggyback" on unsecure connections.

The Mac address filtering is a good backup as well if someone did happen to gain access to your network by bruteforcing the password.

Besides any good network that does have wireless will have access restriected to mac's along with the added security of WPA/2.

My advice dont listen to the scare mongering that it still not safe..
Lets face nothing is really safe, anything can be cracked given time and money....