Netgear MA301/401 and Encryption

Scot L. Harris webid at cfl.rr.com
Wed Jul 28 23:20:39 UTC 2004


On Wed, 2004-07-28 at 18:32, Price Technology wrote:
> >
> > Without encryption it would be very easy to look at all your packets
> > going over the wireless connection.  This could include your pop3
> > passwords for your email access, text of your emails, etc.
> >
> They'd have to sniff the packets without being able to access the network  
> though.
> 

With wireless that is very easy to do.  You don't have to be able to
access the network to sniff the packets.  

> > Think of it as if you have locked your homes door but have the huge
> > picture window on the front of the house with the drapes pulled open.
> > Nobody can get in easily but they can see everything that is going on
> > inside.
> >
> Good analogy.
> 

Thanks! :)

> > Of course if you are using WEP someone can still break the encryption
> > but they have to gather a couple of million interesting packets to do
> > so.  Usually more trouble than it is worth for most casual hackers.  But
> > encryption would keep your next door neighbors kid from getting
> > information you may not want them to have.
> >
> I guess I didn't consider the possibility of "promiscuous" sniffing.  With  
> the MAC address restrictions and not broadcasting the SSID, I'd pretty  
> well have the neighbor's kid blocked out anyway.
> 

You may be surprised what tools like gkismet can show. :)

> Thanks for the input.
> 
> Joebewan
-- 
Scot L. Harris
webid at cfl.rr.com

Bubble Memory, n.:
	A derogatory term, usually referring to a person's intelligence.
	See also "vacuum tube". 





More information about the fedora-list mailing list