computer help

**ed taylor** · 12th June 2006, 18:20

I have just bought my daughter a new laptop, when I switched it on to try and set it up to network it with the "house" pc, a box came up saying it has found an unsecure wireless connection, I was able to then get on to the internet, several questions I woild like some one with more knowage than me to answer.
How safe is it for her to use, can anyone see what she sends.
Is it legal
Would it be better if I set her laptop up to use the ethernet cable that I use for my laptop, would it be safer then.
Any help and information will be very much appreciated.
Cheers if anyone can help.

**plasma** · 12th June 2006, 18:25

First off is your internet the 'unsecured connection' that your logging on to? With an unsecured network anyone passing within range of your house will be able to log on to your network and use your bandwidth, you should secure it with WEP, which will give you a password key to log onto the network.

As for people seeing things its unlikely unless they are using a packet sniffer to directly look at whats going back and forth across the wireless network. IMO as long as you secure the internet connection then its fine. I've have mine set that way. If u need more help gimme a shout. HTH's

**ed taylor** · 12th June 2006, 18:27

how do i set up a WEP?

**plasma** · 12th June 2006, 18:29

do you have MSN installed? WOuld be easier in real time

**ed taylor** · 12th June 2006, 18:30

How would i set it up to use the ethernet cable so she can use msn, just in case it is more secure, and we seem to keep losing the signal on the wireless conection.

**Duncan** · 12th June 2006, 18:34

Originally Posted by plasma

First off is your internet the 'unsecured connection' that your logging on to?

I think he's meaning he's found somebody elses wireless network - correct me if I'm wrong Ed. If so, do you have your own wireless network set-up or will your only connection with the internet (with the laptop) be (currently) through a cable?

D

**plasma** · 12th June 2006, 18:35

on the pc your using now, is it setup using DHCP, that is with the router/modem assigning all the details? If you go to settings, network connections, then doubleclick on an icon saying Local Area Network, then click on support. should say address type - assigned by DHCP and then IP address underneath?

**ed taylor** · 12th June 2006, 18:35

the daughter is just putting msn on it now. would Norton internet security be the same as WEP, as she has norton internet security on it.

**GARY3306** · 12th June 2006, 18:36

When I got my laptop, John (CDTi) put me in touch with a company who supplied me with a Buffalo modem and wireless router. It is so easy to set up it's not real. It automatically sets the level of security for you, however, it comes with a built in system called AOSS (forget what it stands for), which is exclusive to Buffalo (I think), I then bought a buffalo client card for my lappy which supports the AOSS and as soon as you turn on the laptop, the AOSS automatically starts up to give you the most secure wireless connection possible. The whole setup cost me about £80.00. Well worth it.

**plasma** · 12th June 2006, 18:36

WEP is an option you can select on the router/modem. It locks it down so that the router gives out a set of passcodes, and the computer using the network must have this passcode to access the internet/network