Concerning WiFi security??

[pickel]

SWAT team throws flashbangs, raids wrong home due to open WiFi network | Ars Technica

After reading this article, and even though I have WAP and feel that my network is not being intruded on (?) ,and was wondering what would be the simplest way to block my signal when I was not using a wireless device and not have to shut down my router for the wired computers, TV and Dish box.
Not being a tech Wiz on wireless and knowing that there are devices to block a signal, I thought that a box of the proper material placed over the router would do the trick!!! Lead, stainless steel, etc. ????
Any of you tech geniuses who could point me in the right direction, would be greatly appreciated .

TIA

[tony_j15]

More trouble than it's worth that way.
If you're WiFi is open or using WEP encryption, switch it to WPA2 for starters.
You can also filter MAC IDs, which will only allow pre-approved devices to log in.
Check your WiFi signal strength and power it down. Some of them come full-powered out of the box, which often means they reach outside your residence and into your yard and even a neighbor's house. Power down the signal until it only covers the area you want it to. This takes a bit of work, since you'll have to go sniffing around the house to make sure you still have coverage where you need it.

There is no such thing as a safe, secure network. The goal with a home network should just be to make it difficult enough that any Black Hat doing a wardrive will pass you up for an easier target.

[pickel]

More trouble than it's worth that way.
If you're WiFi is open or using WEP encryption, switch it to WPA2 for starters.
You can also filter MAC IDs, which will only allow pre-approved devices to log in.
Check your WiFi signal strength and power it down. Some of them come full-powered out of the box, which often means they reach outside your residence and into your yard and even a neighbor's house. Power down the signal until it only covers the area you want it to. This takes a bit of work, since you'll have to go sniffing around the house to make sure you still have coverage where you need it.

There is no such thing as a safe, secure network. The goal with a home network should just be to make it difficult enough that any Black Hat doing a wardrive will pass you up for an easier target.

That would defeat my purpose. Sometimes I sit over in my neighbor's front yard and use the internet.
Also, I want to use my Skype phone in the yard.
I thought that blocking the antenna signal would be the easiest way. ?? No ??

[RicheemxX]

You are way over thinking this, just turn off the wifi when you aren't using it.

edit: To be totally honest I don't see it as a major concern. As long as you have some security most would be trouble makers aren't going to bother. There are just too many open connections out there to connect to without having to crack someone else's.

But yeah if it's really that big a concern, disable it. It only take a couple second to log into the router setup and turn on/off the wifi when you aren't using it.

[Theophylact]

WiFi security is an oxymoron.

[pickel]

You are way over thinking this, just turn off the wifi when you aren't using it.

edit: To be totally honest I don't see it as a major concern. As long as you have some security most would be trouble makers aren't going to bother. There are just too many open connections out there to connect to without having to crack someone else's.

But yeah if it's really that big a concern, disable it. It only take a couple second to log into the router setup and turn on/off the wifi when you aren't using it.

I understand this, thanks.

However, my real purpose was to find some kind of shield that would block the signal in whatever direction I wanted . That is, if I did find a blocking device, I could block the signal from going in any direction I wanted and still have mine and my wife's laptops able to connect. Thus , shutting down intruders driving by searching for open networks. Or ,as in the article , getting hijacked and have the Bulls braking into my house.
Just a thought......

An idle mind...

[Taxmancometh]

SWAT team throws flashbangs, raids wrong home due to open WiFi network | Ars Technica

After reading this article, and even though I have WAP and feel that my network is not being intruded on (?) ,and was wondering what would be the simplest way to block my signal when I was not using a wireless device and not have to shut down my router for the wired computers, TV and Dish box.
Not being a tech Wiz on wireless and knowing that there are devices to block a signal, I thought that a box of the proper material placed over the router would do the trick!!! Lead, stainless steel, etc. ????
Any of you tech geniuses who could point me in the right direction, would be greatly appreciated .

TIA

What is WAP? Don't you mean WPA? or WPA2? Do that and remove the antennas if your not using WIFI. https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm

I just read you do use the WIFI. Well secure it with WPA and with a password in hexadecimal from that link and you'll be fine.

I flashed my WIFI card to use European channels that you can't use in the U.S. I currently use channel 14 with my DD-WRT flashed router. Plus I have MAC filtering on, I limit to two clients max connected, regulate the power use a windsurfer reflector and use a 64 hexadecimal key in WPA2 TKIP+AES.

Ez-12

[RicheemxX]

Just get a tinfoil hat...LOL

You could paint your house with wifi blocking paint or wifi blocking wall paper, maybe move into a Faraday cage

Theoretically you could probably build a Faraday cage around the router in all but the direction you want reception. The problem is however any blocking you are doing is likely to make your own reception suffer to the point of making it useless. That and the fact that you'd still be sending out a signal would mean you'd be just as open to intruders and a potential attack. It might be harder for them to gain access but short of using a wired connection there is no completely secure way to allow your own access and totally block everyone else.

edit: Here ya go, line all the walls around your house with this
Anti-WiFi wallpaper lets cellular and radio through | Ars Technica the get some wire mesh for all the windows and doors so the signal doesn't bleed through.

[brandon184]

Configure your WiFi router to not broadcast your SSID to those in range. This means two things:

1) To those in range of your network, the wireless network will not appear under the list of "Available Networks" when they are looking for a network to join.

2) Because the network will also not be visible to you, you will need to manually enter the SSID on all of your devices. Though this is a one-time setup thing and fairly straightforward.

Does this mean that it will be impossible to find your network by a determined hacker? No. It means that your average computer user will be fooled into thinking that there is no network available.

Most people looking to anonymize their internet usage aren't looking to "hack" into secured WiFi networks. They want easy targets (i.e. open, unsecured networks)

Brandon

[Taxmancometh]

My network WIFI card shows hidden SSIDS.

[brandon184]

Like I said, it's not a perfect solution. It's one more step he can, among others, take to prevent people from accessing his network.

[Taxmancometh]

I don't even bother hiding my SSID (Skynet) after all, I'm using channel 14.

[no1_vern]

SWAT team throws flashbangs, raids wrong home due to open WiFi network | Ars Technica

After reading this article, and even though I have WAP and feel that my network is not being intruded on (?) ,and was wondering what would be the simplest way to block my signal when I was not using a wireless device and not have to shut down my router for the wired computers, TV and Dish box.
Not being a tech Wiz on wireless and knowing that there are devices to block a signal, I thought that a box of the proper material placed over the router would do the trick!!! Lead, stainless steel, etc. ????
Any of you tech geniuses who could point me in the right direction, would be greatly appreciated .

TIA

They will catch me for shure if'n you close it down.

/sarcasm(in case anyone was actually fooled)

IMO- The BEST way is to NOT use wireless. Only used wired connections. Every specification is hackable - and thus, untrustworthy. Give me 15 minutes, and I can make YOUR WIRELESS system mine(and you probably wouldn't even know it until the police visit you).

WEP - How to Crack a Wi-Fi Network's WEP Password with BackTrack

WPA/WPA2 - How To Crack WPA / WPA2 - SmallNetBuilder

ALSO: InfoSec Resources – Protect Your Wireless Network from Leechers and Hackers

The LONG and short if it is - IF you used wireless, if someone can listen in long enough, your wireless network can(and, IMO, WILL be) be hacked.

[pickel]

They will catch me for shure if'n you close it down.

/sarcasm(in case anyone was actually fooled)

IMO- The BEST way is to NOT use wireless. Only used wired connections. Every specification is hackable - and thus, untrustworthy. Give me 15 minutes, and I can make YOUR WIRELESS system mine(and you probably wouldn't even know it until the police visit you).

WEP - How to Crack a Wi-Fi Network's WEP Password with BackTrack

WPA/WPA2 - How To Crack WPA / WPA2 - SmallNetBuilder

ALSO: InfoSec Resources – Protect Your Wireless Network from Leechers and Hackers

The LONG and short if it is - IF you used wireless, if someone can listen in long enough, your wireless network can(and, IMO, WILL be) be hacked.

From the article...

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) was created to solve the gaping security flaws that plagued WEP. Perhaps the most predominant flaw in WEP is that the key is not hashed, but concatenated to the IV, allowing completely passive compromise of the network. With WEP, you can literally sit in your car listening for packets on a network. Once you have captured enough of them, you can extract the key and connect to the network.

There is no way that anyone could sit in there car on my street for any length of time without myself, or one of my neighbors ( Navy Seal, Army Ranger, Army ordinance expert )without being approached and questioned.
But, down the street are some real losers who I wouldn't put passed hacking into any of our wireless networks.
Was just thinking, if i could block off the signal in that direction, I'd feel more more comfortable about leaving the router on without having to constantly turn the signal on and off.
Just , call me lazy......

[pickel]

Just get a tinfoil hat...LOL

You could paint your house with wifi blocking paint or wifi blocking wall paper, maybe move into a Faraday cage

I'm glad someone is having FUN !!!!



Anti-WiFi wallpaper lets cellular and radio through | Ars Technica




A booster bag (shopping bag lined with aluminium foil) acts as a Faraday cage. It is often used by shoplifters to steal RFID-tagged items.

Cut and pasted from..

Faraday cage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'll just some aluminium sheeting and cover the wall which I do not want the signal to go through then paint it the same color as the room !!!!

[Taxmancometh]

They will catch me for shure if'n you close it down.

/sarcasm(in case anyone was actually fooled)

IMO- The BEST way is to NOT use wireless. Only used wired connections. Every specification is hackable - and thus, untrustworthy. Give me 15 minutes, and I can make YOUR WIRELESS system mine(and you probably wouldn't even know it until the police visit you).



WPA/WPA2 - How To Crack WPA / WPA2 - SmallNetBuilder

Bull shit! The only way to crack WPA is by dictionary attack. Read the image in the article. You do what I do and use the link I provided and create yourself a 64 digit hexadecimal key you are protected.

[GroundZero3]

Psst WPA2 tkip/aes with certificates is still strong