Your neighbors' wireless networks...

[Alex Franke]

Do you ever try to match the wireless network names your computer finds near your home with specific neighbors?

For example, I can't for the life of me imagine which neighbor named his or her network "LordOfAllEvil"... I also got a kick out of "TheInterwebs".

[charliex]

The next door neighbors named theirs after their dog, Arf. Hopefully their net connect isn't as dumb as or slobber as much as the dog.

[bigstick509]

The names of the networks are not what gets me in my neighborhood, its the unprotected and WEP only encryption that make me wonder.

[gsmittle]

Most of my neighbors left the default name; "2WIRExxx" or "linksys," although there is one named "Shine." Finally, after a couple of years, most of them are passworded. I haven't had the motivation to find out which use "admin," "password," or "xxxx."

Mine is named "House Net." With a long password.

g.

[unknown poster]

One of my neighbors named their network BeachHouse. The nearest beach is about 300 miles away.

Mine is hidden, which may actually create more security problems than it solves.

[TB Roye]

Mine is still 2wirexxx but at least it has a good password and is firewalled. I thought about renaming it but don't know how.

Tom

[twistsol]

None of my neighbors are close enough for me to see their wireless networks. Mine is not password protected, but it only allows authorized MAC addresses.

My brother in law's network name is PigsInSpace. I never asked why.

[jackellis]

I'm a bit lazy like Tom, but the password on my router is long enough and unique enough that it would be tough for a casual passer-by to crack. Up here there aren't too many determined thieves.

All of the machines on the network have so many other protective layers they can hardly run anything else! One anti-virus package, ZoneAlarm, and three different spyware detection applications.

[LCHIEN]

all 2wirexxx here, except mine, No imagination.
AT&T puts the 2-wire networking products in.

[TB Roye]

I have ATT Uverse and have never felt the need to go in and change any thing. I can go in through the back door and change it but to lazy I guess. There are at least 6 2wireXXX system in range and 1 Linkus system

Tom

[dbhost]

Mine has a nice long, obscure name that came from a favorite movie character, it is protected by WEP, has a good strong password, and before it is allowed to touch ANYTHING on the wired network, passes through a Linux based firewall box. This is just so I can connect my Wii, and my BIL's netbook to the internet...

I have a neighbor, not sure who, that has a network name of "Pornchaser". I think I know how they spend their time online...

[Mr__Bill]

One neighbor couldn't understand how to add a laptop when it came home from collage so they disabled all security on their network. It's far enough away so that I only see it when conditions are just right. When that happens I send a page to their printer, usually it's from their dog complaining about something like 'you never play with me'. I never went looking, didn't really care but one day our laptop found a new printer and it was theirs. I expect I could troll through their computers too but don't want to try. The others for some reason use phone numbers or the default. Mine? It's 'Not Your Network'

Bill,
over here in the rain, about 7" this week, forget the earthquake we are going to erode away first.

[sparkeyjames]

Mine is "Neo should have taken the blue pill" without all the spaces of course. That reference has nothing to do with viagra. I use WPA2 with a strong password.

[bigstick509]

Mine is "I should have taken the blue pill" without all the spaces of course. That reference has nothing to do with viagra. I use WPA2 with a strong password.

WPA2 is the way to go. On occasion I have to accesses sensitive accounts online over the wireless network.

[Kristofor]

Securing the wireless segment is great for avoiding having your bandwidth stolen if that's your concern.

However, if you want to secure your data you need to secure the transport or else secure the 1000's of other hops your data travels over. Secure your systems and don't trust the network IMO.