[Rhodes22-list] Humor, political, Canadian style

[Herb Parsons]

OK, don't want to be one of those "the sky is falling types", and 
frankly the email below sort of got off topic a bit, but here goes:

If you set up encryption on your WiFi at home, you don't have to deal 
with the "hassle" of remembering the password. Most computers are (and 
those few that aren't can be) set to "remember" your password for any 
given SSID. I know that's probably Greek (maybe "geek"?) to you, but it 
basically means you won't have to remember the password just to use your 
WiFi.

I'm going to precede this by saying most of the warnings I'm about to 
give are "bad case" scenarios - definitely not "worst case", but they're 
not likely to happen. The number of people with all the right 
ingredients - skill to use your open system, desire to use your open 
system, and proximity to use your open system - is really probably 
pretty small; but then, do you REALLY want to take that chance?

Your cavailer attitude is because you don't completely understand the 
issue. First of all, you give a little away when you say "I do a little 
online banking". Your mistaken if you think that the worst they could do 
would be to transfer money from one account to another. With your bank 
information, they can theoretically get enough  to transfer money from 
your account to any account they want. It wouldn't be easy, but it could 
be done.

There are other issues though? Got any enemies? Shoot, you really don't 
even need enemies, just someone out to have a little "fun" could do it. 
Grab your system, put a few pics of naked little girls on it, then call 
in an annonymous tip to the authorities. That's not NEARLY as hard as 
the one listed above.

Don't think of it only in the context of them being able to look at (and 
use) the contents of your computer, think of as them being able to watch 
everything you do on your computer, and even "become you" on it.

Do you REALLY want that type of exposure?

BTW, being behind a router doesn't protect you from them. They're 
attaching to your wireless at the same point you are, on the same side 
of your router.

Securing the wireless isn't really hard to do. This site might help you 
http://www.jiwire.com/wi-fi-security-home-networks-1.htm (I linked to 
the pertinent part, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to read the whole thing).


Steven Alm wrote:
...
> One issue is that I do indeed have an open WiFi at my home.  First, I don't
> even know how to set it up with a password and second, I'd rather not have
> to put in a password every time I go online.  My wife would also see that as
> extra hassle.  And why should I worry anyway?  All anyone would find on my
> computer is a sh*t load of music and a lot of pictures of boats, email to
> you guys, and flight itinerary for my next trip.  The only thing even close
> to being confidential is my folder where I keep info on my travel expenses
> and other deductions.  Hardly worth anything to anybody but me.  I do a
> little online banking and some bill paying but that's all encrypted and
> password-protected.  I think the worst they could do would be to transfer
> money from my savings to my checking.  I check with the bank periodically
> and they have reported no Tomfoolery.  My apologies to anyone named Tom and
> no implications are implied.
>
> The technology is bit over my head but since I use a router, doesn't that
> keep me safe?  I have, on occasion, snagged some one's private WiFi signal
> so I could get on line but it never took me to their computer.  Then again,
> I'm no hacker and wouldn't know where to begin.
...