Unsecured wireless router

[Pondlife]

The flat I rent close to client site is owned by the same landlord as the one next door and as part of the rent he includes a wireless DSL connection. The router is located in the other flat (so I have no physical access to it) and I don't know the admin password for it.

Someone has now moved into the other flat and has removed the WEP key so the network is now completely accessable to anyone in range.

What are the security implications for my PC? It's running vista including the standard firewall. Is this sufficiently robust or should I be looking for something stronger? If so, suggestions (zone alarm?) welcomed.

TIA

PL

[voodooflux]

What are the security implications for my PC? It's running vista including the standard firewall. Is this sufficiently robust or should I be looking for something stronger? If so, suggestions (zone alarm?) welcomed.

As you say, your PC is now potentially exposed to anyone with access to the access point. I would enquire as to why the WEP key was removed (not satisfactorally secure enough in itself - WPA/WPA2 would be much, much better) and whether a level of security can be reinstated at the access point.

[pmeswani]

The flat I rent close to client site is owned by the same landlord as the one next door and as part of the rent he includes a wireless DSL connection. The router is located in the other flat (so I have no physical access to it) and I don't know the admin password for it.

Someone has now moved into the other flat and has removed the WEP key so the network is now completely accessable to anyone in range.

What are the security implications for my PC? It's running vista including the standard firewall. Is this sufficiently robust or should I be looking for something stronger? If so, suggestions (zone alarm?) welcomed.

TIA

PL

My first question is... did you have permission to access the Wireless Router in the first place? (If you didn't then you should stop using it regardless of whether it is secured or not).

My Second question is... Do you not have an Antivirus / Anti-Spyware software installed on your computer? (This isn't the bullet-proof solution, but some of the current AV solutions such as Kaspersky and TrendMicro have built-in Firewalls which should block some / most of the threats you may encounter).

Finally... What's stopping you from getting your own Internet connection, other than cost?

I would suggest looking at Kaspersky as a good AV virus with a good built in firewall. Zonealarm is ok, but haven't used it in a few years.

[voodooflux]

The flat I rent close to client site is owned by the same landlord as the one next door and as part of the rent he includes a wireless DSL connection.

My first question is... did you have permission to access the Wireless Router in the first place? (If you didn't then you should stop using it regardless of whether it is secured or not).

It sounds like he is accessing the wireless router provided by his landlord. That's what I read into it anyway.

[Pondlife]

It sound like he is accessing the wireless router provided by his landlord. That's what I read into it anyway.

Correct. It's included as part of the rent.

The machine has AVG running as well as the std windows firewall. My question is whether windows firewall is robust enough or whether I should be looking for more protection.

[DaveB]

Correct. It's included as part of the rent.

The machine has AVG running as well as the std windows firewall. My question is whether windows firewall is robust enough or whether I should be looking for more protection.

Windows firewall + upto date AV will keep out most nasties. The stuff to worry about is the stuff that gets downloaded from clicking on dodgy website links and emails. Stay clear of those iffy porn sites you used to hang around on and don't open any email attachements promising to enhance various appendages and you should be ok

[pmeswani]

Correct. It's included as part of the rent.

The machine has AVG running as well as the std windows firewall. My question is whether windows firewall is robust enough or whether I should be looking for more protection.

Fair enough. It's too early in the morning for me...Have only just woken up.

I don't believe the Windows Firewall is robust enough to protect you against some of the network based attacks. It does block most traffic, but it is weaker on the RPC based attacks. I would look for more protection and would look at the products I mentioned in my previous post. However, I would ask the Landlord to re-enable the security on the Router itself, and look at using WPA/WPA2 instead of WEP (if possible).