[bcab] Re: Computer security

 Thank you for explaining  but seems depressing if Microsoft are  knowledgeable 
about it all, not sure what WpA is. I had the tell the computer Guru, which is 
what he terms himself how to  find my Wep Number and Zen  told how to tell him 
to do it  you type numbers in Run  etc. so if my bandwidth is 8 Meg and Andrew 
Hodgson thinks I cannot  possible have used it all as I do little on the Web,  
I don't use Messenger or windows Messenger  or download Music, could it be 
things like Patches that gobble up the  usage? I finally  got the 2 Kurzweil 11 
patches in last night after a week of " Do not send" and An error is being 
created.  so they are on both. I have  3 neighbours who all use wireless but  
do not know what a WEP number is. 1 uses a Belkins Router,  another something 
called Nizel which I have not heard of. I asked Zen  how is Net Gear they 
said"it used to be very good but lately  somewhat flaky"  I i imagine flaky 
means a bit  iffy in computer terms. I am pressing Bt  to deal with Bt Open 
Reach and if the cables are in a Council drain which is not maintained  they 
now  
The Bt exchange is about a mile and half away. Zen could watch my line 
collapsing  they are helpful No Bombay call centres tether will take it up with 
Local Authority.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tristram Llewellyn 
  To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:47 AM
  Subject: [bcab] Re: Computer security 


  Wireless is a classic example of user convenience verses security.  It is 
convenient and all we like it, we can go round the house without it etc. but it 
is not as secure as copper wire.  Wireless if anything is less secure because 
it would be possible to get access to the traffic (between you and a wireless 
router) if you happen to be sitting within range, and had time to pursue a 
brute force attack on the data to break the encryption.  This has certainly 
happened with WEP and may possibly happen with WPA at some stage if it hasn't 
already.  

  Wireless also leaks other information is is a direct result of some of the 
default behaviours of Windows which for example allow a PC to broadcast what 
networks it has connected to previously, and also the default to connect ad hoc 
(between PC to PC) rather than use infrastructure mode.  Such promiscuous 
behaviour initiated by Windows is dodgy from a security point of view.  This 
apsect of wireless security and particularly this update has been very poorly 
advertised by Microsoft who don't make this update available through the 
Windows Update portal.  Unfortunately I haven't the time to go into this right 
now here, but anyone wishing to read up on this specific problem should go here 
as a starting off point:
  
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=2726F32F-D52B-4F84-ACE8-F7FC20195769

  NAT stands for Network Address Translation, in essence your router provides 
only public face to the internet in one I/P address whilst your computers 
behind the router have private I/P addresses.  In between it is possible to 
process and block certain information (eg. a firewall) that gives you some 
measure of protection.

  Regards.

  Tristram Llewellyn
  Sight and Sound Technology
  Technical Support
  www.sightandsound.co.uk



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