linksys???

[BUTLER REDSFAN]

I'm not the most tech savvy guy so maybe someone can explain... One of the signals/wireless networks that I can sign onto when I fire up my netbook computer is linksys...it goes to that b4 it lets me get on my own home wireless network....I was in Pigeon Forge earlier this week and it still let me sign onto linksys there?????

[ochre]

linksys is a brand. By default linksys wireless access points set their SSID to linksys. It's a pretty popular brand and a lot of people just run with the straight out of the box config.

[Roy Tucker]

When you configure your home wireless router, you can name your service. Many people just keep it as the default which is usually the manufacturer name like "linksys", "dlink", etc etc.

When I fire up my laptop from home, there are a lot of them around from other people in the 'hood.

I named my home network access point Zippy.

[couch_manager]

Like others said, that is the default name of the SSID for linksys brand routers. The fact that it let you get onto the network means that the owner didn't didn't secure it with a passkey/passphrase.

You should be able to remove it from your list of available networks so your computer hops onto the right network the first time.

[paintmered]

Anytime you see a wireless signal named "linksys", it's an indication that the user doesn't know squat about setting up a wireless network. They're also giant security risks.

[couch_manager]

Originally Posted by paintmered

Anytime you see a wireless signal named "linksys", it's an indication that the user doesn't know squat about setting up a wireless network. They're also giant security risks.

It's actually not a security risk to leave the SSID as is. The SSID is just a name. Even disabling broadcast of the SSID won't do you any good. A packet sniffer can easily discover the SSID. The best one can do to secure wireless is to use WPA2 encryption with a strong key.

[BUTLER REDSFAN]

Originally Posted by ochre

linksys is a brand. By default linksys wireless access points set their SSID to linksys. It's a pretty popular brand and a lot of people just run with the straight out of the box config.

So... does this mean I should have wireless access wherever I am because of linksys? I mean if I am driving in the middle of nowhere would I still be able to logon???

[couch_manager]

Originally Posted by BUTLER REDSFAN

So... does this mean I should have wireless access wherever I am because of linksys? I mean if I am driving in the middle of nowhere would I still be able to logon???

No. Once you're out of your wireless router's range (which is usually confined to the space within your house or may extend outside a ways), you are not on YOUR wireless network. If you are still able to connect to a network that is named with the SSID "linksys" after you've left your house, it's because you're connecting to SOMEONE ELSE'S network that failed to secure their router's wireless settings. They left their network open because they were ignorant...or, they're a hotel or other establishment (e.g. coffee shop) that offers free wireless internet access to their guests.

[ochre]

Originally Posted by couch_manager

... If you are still able to connect to a network that is named with the SSID "linksys" after you've left your house, it's because you're connecting to SOMEONE ELSE'S network that failed to secure their router's wireless settings. They left their network open because they were ignorant...or, they're a hotel or other establishment (e.g. coffee shop) that offers free wireless internet access to their guests.

Or they read Bruce Schneier's essays semi-regularly.
http://www.schneier.com/essay-202.html

Steal This Wi-Fi

By Bruce Schneier
Wired News
January 10, 2008
Whenever I talk or write about my own security setup, the one thing that surprises people -- and attracts the most criticism -- is the fact that I run an open wireless network at home. There's no password. There's no encryption. Anyone with wireless capability who can see my network can use it to access the internet.

[couch_manager]

Originally Posted by ochre

Or they read Bruce Schneier's essays semi-regularly.
http://www.schneier.com/essay-202.html

His basic argument is to keep your wireless open is because it contributes to a greater quality of life for someone else. Sorry Bruce, but the benefits don't outweigh the risks. Seriously, if somebody needs internet access that badly, they need to buy an aircard.

[ochre]

his basic argument is that it's much more important to secure your computer. Unless, of course, you only use it with a certain radius of your own access point.

[couch_manager]

Originally Posted by ochre

his basic argument is that it's much more important to secure your computer. Unless, of course, you only use it with a certain radius of your own access point.

If you say so. From what I read, he spent more time advocating for open wifi. I don't read his columns, so I don't know if he's half-joking about that or not. But I do know that I'd rather have layers of security.

[paintmered]

Originally Posted by couch_manager

It's actually not a security risk to leave the SSID as is. The SSID is just a name. Even disabling broadcast of the SSID won't do you any good. A packet sniffer can easily discover the SSID. The best one can do to secure wireless is to use WPA2 encryption with a strong key.

Right. But my point was that when there's an SSID with the name "linksys", it's likely due to an unsavvy user who doesn't know to encrypt. Thus, the security risk.

[couch_manager]

Originally Posted by paintmered

Right. But my point was that when there's an SSID with the name "linksys", it's likely due to an unsavvy user who doesn't know to encrypt. Thus, the security risk.

[ochre]

This may be outdated now, as there might be other methods that render the salting moot, but leaving the default SSID when using WPA/WPA2 might make it easier to crack a preshared passphrase. Has to do with the fact that WPAx uses a salted hash, with the salt being the SSID. That means there are precompiled hashtables out there that address the most common SSIDs, removing a step or two in the cracking process.