I have read some on Proxy Servers, but I am still confused.

Eberhard Roloff tuxebi at gmx.de
Wed Dec 3 16:43:07 UTC 2008


Billie Walsh wrote:

>>   
> We use a WEP key on our home system. That's sufficient to keep honest 
> people honest. If someone cracks it about all they can do is look at my 
> grand children's pictures or my Maxine collection. There's nothing on 
> the system to make it worthwhile to get into.

So you do not mind when your fotos are stolen? Lucky you.
Never mind, this is your concern.
> 
> IF we had a system with very sensitive information, or we had something 
> to hide, on it we would use something different, but WEP is sufficient 
> for most home computer use.

At least over here in germany this is dangerous advice, since it is 
mostly not the contents of your computers that is endangered (and again, 
this your own responsibility) It is, what an attacker might possibly do 
with your internet connection.

When he does criminal things with your connection, over here, you are 
the first person, who is legally responsible.
The only way to escape this responsibility is that you can demonstrate 
that you did anything you could to protect your connection, i.e. you did 
anything that one could reasonably expect from someone with your 
knowledge. And WEP definitely does not suffice!
> 
> Even WPAx won't necessarily keep out someone that's determined to get in 
> and is willing to make the effort required. 

I agree, but while it will be great fun to crack your WEP after 
breakfast, I would not love to crack your correctly implemented WPA key, 
at least not without your invitation to spend a lengthy holliday in 
front of your house ;-))

In that case the only sure
> way to keep someone out is turn off the machine. There are way more than 
> enough completely wide open systems to keep any number of people happy 
> without working to get into even a WEP protected system.
> 

I disagree, there is very minimal effort needed to get into WEP. I 
consider WEP to be as good as "wide open".

Kind regards,

Eberhard,
who will be converting a customer's WLAN to dLAN, i.e. Networking via 
mains supply, tomorrow. ;-))





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