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[Yorkie]

Too late I am - thought this might interest you

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/index.cfm?action=showthread&threadid=337074&forumid=16

[UncleUB]

Its the old 'It can't happen to me syndrome'I have never had or used a wireless connection but I have read enough info to know you have to have a secure connection or nasty things can happen.

[roseway]

If you're using wireless then you really must secure it Yorkie. Let us know if you need any help.

[kitz]

 

[Yorkie]

I'm ok all passworded up. Whats a little disconcerting about it is the OP is quite savvy with regards to computers, he helps out in the helproom and I think he posts in the VNU help forums as well. I may use his link though for better security. Paranoid, who me?, never.

[guest]

What's disconcerting (to me anyway) is the complete lack of knowledge being displayed in that thread Turning off SSID is the biggest load of nonsense ever and results in no end of problems for end-users. It does NOT make you any more secure as security by obscurity is no security at all.

[kitz]

Must admit Ive never ever bothered turning off my SSID and still allow my Network name to be broadcast.  I dont think anyone else I know does either... yet it does seem to be something I see frequently mentioned a lot on certain forums as to how you MUST hide your SSID to improve your security.

My own thoughts are if someone is going to go to the bother of hacking my network then hiding my SSID isnt going to make a jot of difference.

Contrary to a common belief that the SSID is a WLAN security feature and its exposure a security risk, the SSID is nothing more than a wireless-space group label. It cannot be successfully hidden. Attempts to hide it will not only fail, but will negatively impact WLAN performance, and may result in additional exposure of the SSID to passive scanning. The performance impact of this misguided effort will be felt in multiple WLAN scenarios, including simple operations like joining a WLAN, and in significantly longer roaming times.
link

[tickmike]

This is one of the reasons I do not use 'wireless' and I use a 'Wired' Network .
I will look out for this Mini-bus for swad. is not a thousand miles away from me. 

In our village, I know there are a lot of unsecured wireless routers.
Some of these near me who broadcast there names are elderly and may not understand the technology and it's problems, maybe they get there family to set there computer up for them. 

[kitz]

Yep - I remember once going "driving" out of curiousity and it was surprising just how many open networks there were.   
Not just private ones either

[fudgem]

my supposedly computer savvy son set up my wireless connection for me, and told me securing it wasn't necessary really, he didn't bother with his, anybody could use it if they wanted

If it wasn't for using forums like this, I would still be unprotected