Wireless Broadband Intenet Access

I currently have an Apple Mac desktop and my broadband internet service is provided by PCCW via a modem


I now want to purchase an Apple Mac laptop and then run both the desktop and the laptop wirelessly in my apartment.


Trying to get PCCW to understand this is impossible


Does anybody know if this is possible, and if so how


Any help greatly appreciated


Mark

Buy a wireless router. Follow the instructions that come with it for PPPoE connection, and put in yourusername@netvigator.com and password. You can connect your new laptop through wireless and your desktop through a wired connection, or buy a wireless adapter for your desktop. I don't use Mac, but shouldn't be much more involved than this. No need to talk with PCCW for this.


A little bit more advanced, and after you've confirmed your laptop can connect to the router, follow instructions with the router to:

change the defualt admin password,

change the default SSID and stop broadcasting it,

use encryption,

use MAC adress filtering to allow only your laptop,

configure laptop for same encryption and SSID

By the way, reason you want to configure the security on your wireless router isn't just to keep others from getting free internet access, it's because you don't want them doing anything illegal with your conection.

tmk makes a very valid point. Most people I talk to don't initially understand why bother. Is not different to leave the keys to your car at the door, then someone steals it and have have a car accident..........get the picture.


There are loads of things one can do with a open wirelles connection, like send a million emails a day, or hack into a bank, share or publish or download porn and on and on. And if the networking of your pc is also activated, with a bit of time and the right tools all those sensitive material on your pc is theirs.


So don't let you become the victim.


Greg

Greg,

Good examples.


I was on an IT security course last week, and the example given was your neighbour downloading child-porn over your open wireless connection, and storing the files on your PC. How would you explain that to the authorities? Could very easily result in losing a job, marriage problems, incarceration etc.


Yes, the chance of that happening is extremely small, but the result could be catastrophic on your life if it did happen. A few minutes of setting up some wireless security will usually make your neighbour look for another neighbours open wireless connection.


As an aside to wireless security, most home users don't realize that XP, by default, leaves the Administrator account open and without a password. I say "open" as the administrator account is still active even if it doesn't appear on your login menu. Not much good to put passwords on user accounts and leave Admin wide open. Put a password on it, and make it difficult to hack with the free and easily available "right tools".


tmk