Comments on: How Easy Is It To Crack A Wifi Network? [MakeUseOf Explains]

By: Darrell Thomas

Darrell Thomas — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:13:30 +0000

ill give this ago later tonight see if mines hackable hopefully not as thats the first thing i do is disable WPS but yeah thanks for the write up

By: Parigyan

Parigyan — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:30:41 +0000

Very Informative post James ! I have learnt much from this article !

By: Ali Ehsan

Ali Ehsan — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:20:54 +0000

thanks for sharing this information with us :)

By: Howart Smith

Howart Smith — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 06:17:04 +0000

I am using Hotspot Shield Free VPN while using wifi hotspots. Hotspot Shield free Wi-Fi security software encrypts sensitive data and provides total protection from

hackers at such vulnerable places.

Check it out here: http://www.hotspotshield.com/wifi-security

By: Prasanth Mathialagan

Prasanth Mathialagan — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:11:43 +0000

Excellent article on Wireless security!!!

By: Jim Spencer

Jim Spencer — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:43:40 +0000

Good Article James! It should remind every one of us to be vigilant in protecting our back door!

By: Sean A

Sean A — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:28:25 +0000

I use subterfuge to get into networks when I have to

By: Christopher Webb

Christopher Webb — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:28:26 +0000

What is the most secure Wifi encryption that can be used for Airports?

By: Timothy Clark

Timothy Clark — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:42:58 +0000

The amount of “security risks” on the internet are completely ridiculous any more, not too mention all the useless stuff. ha

By: Knut H. Flottorp

Knut H. Flottorp — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:35:33 +0000

Well said – I have the same on my mobile (N900), so people can move around and crack it. It is important to let the folks know that their networks can be hacked, and in particular that the banks are told that the PIN you have to submit on the Internet bank is visible to anyone that bother.
If you can listen-in, our message must be encrypted. Now how can you do that? Is there any routers in the market that allows for own/ proprietary encryption? How can you configure a network for this?

Let me start by asking: Is there any access points that support bluetooth?

By: Knut H. Flottorp

Knut H. Flottorp — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:09:22 +0000

Read the DHCP allocation lease-log and see if you know everyone that has been awarded a lease. But with all phones being Android-82356554654 – its not easy.

So, use permanent allocation of IP addresses. For every new computer or phone or printer or television/stereo that access it, connect one at a time, and insert the address pair MAC/IP address as permanent. Work your way, one by one. and then tick off “Permanent IP address ONLY”.

They will then still be able to listen in and even duplicate one of your MAC addresses – but this is another fence that is difficult to cross.

By: Knut H. Flottorp

Knut H. Flottorp — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:59:08 +0000

YES – that is the most important security issue.
My router has been hacked, and caused a Denial of Service where the only way out was to reload the binary image of the router, and re-instate all PC and rights. Most routers have a utility to back up this – do it.

The next is to change username of Admin to something else, and place a password – and change the password regularly. Most routers run Linux, so block the telnet and ftp port on this, and use e.g. port 8080 for http access to manage it, and limit the interface to the LAN IP only.

By: Knut H. Flottorp

Knut H. Flottorp — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:08:53 +0000

First it is far from illegal to itch a ride, your neighbor has the same right as you to the WLAN radio frequencies. There are just a limited number of channels available for everyone, so sharing an access point should be more the norm.
Windows SMB – or “Samba” has a notion of “user” and allows you to implement protection. The printer and DLNA storage on your router is open to everyone. Regardless, everyone should limit access to files and network resources. Consider that all is open once it is accessible outside your wall.

By: Knut H. Flottorp

Knut H. Flottorp — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:59:50 +0000

There is nothing you can do – he has the same right to those radio frequencies as you have, which many forgets.
You should impose a MAC address mapping scheme, so he does not pinch your internet connection. or better sign a peace treaty and ask him to chip in on your connection fee.

The SSID should always be readable and identify who allocates the shared resource, so that you can approach a nasty neighbor that blocks your frequency to shut up. Then your neighbour can also approach you and propose to chip in.

By: Knut H. Flottorp

Knut H. Flottorp — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:53:15 +0000

On the Nokia N900 – that runs Linux (Maemo) you can install “Cleven” which will crack most networks. The 2.4GHz frequency used by WLAN is unprotected, and in general available for anyone Your channel is in the public domain and your usage of your frequency is on behalf of someone else.
So, like CB radio, do not tell anything you do not want others to know. Be schizo and use wired connection only for your banking, but the rest of us, please grow up. We just have to stick with this silly technology. The Americans likes it this way and exhibited great effort to stop safer systems. Thank goes to the FCC.