"The Computer Help Thread"

[mhodge44]

Well since you al are into computers I have a quick easy question.
Is there a program I can get for free that will tell me if someone else is using my connection. Preferably one that would keep track of if someone had got on it when I am not there to see it on the computer. It would be a lot cooler if it were a very user friendly computer, because I am not and never will be in IT

[jeepnstein]

Your router should be able to limit your connection's availability. Just tell it to only accept connections from MAC addresses of your equipment. Switching to a static IP addressing scheme at the same time also makes sense. That pretty much puts an end to it. We are talking about wireless, aren't we?

[Schag]

Add Zone Alarm firewall software to your computers. You can download this at http://www.cnet.com
If it's a wireless connection, you should set up the security and password protect the access.
The password is an encrypted password and very hard to crack.

[mhodge44]

Yes it is a wireless router. How do you tell it to only accept connections from my IP addresses, and what is MAC?

If I did the password wuold I have to put in a password everytime I open the computer? I like just opening it and it being there and ready.

[Schag]

If I did the password wuold I have to put in a password everytime I open the computer? I like just opening it and it being there and ready.

You shouldn't.
You should only have to enter it in once and from then on your computer would have access to your wireless.
If you don't do this, your neighbors can use your internet connection freely.

How do you tell it to only accept connections from my IP addresses, and what is MAC?

I wouldn't worry about doing that as it is fairly complicated and your routers security setting would block anyone that didn't have your password anyway.

A MAC is a mac address. It's the address of your paticular network card.
Every network card, including wireless, has a specific address that no other card has.

[mhodge44]

See I know my neighbors are using my connection, but I don't neccasarily want that, and am starting to wonder if a couple behind me are using it as well.

[Schag]

Your wireless router has a range of about 150 feet. (give ot take)
If you activate the security settings, you won't ever have to worry about your neighbors again.
Also, if they are surfing bad stuff like kiddie porn, you may get in trouble.
Get out your router instructions and turn on the security now.
If you have trouble, call the help desk for your router manufacturer.

[jeepnstein]

Some wireless routers have pretty solid security measures. Start with turning on WEP encryption. What brand router are you running?

J.

[mhodge44]

I meant to get on the router security last night but the new upstairs deck kept me to busy. I will try to get into it this weekend. I imagine all I am having to do is get the disk that came with the router and install that software, from there I can find the security and password-protect, right? It is a Belkin g router.
I am also in dire need of more RAM, I might try to take care of all of that today. That should be simple enough, I think. Start taking the bottom of the laptop apart until I find where ever it goes and make sure I get the same kind of new ram?

[jeepnstein]

The software that came with the router on CD is probably not where you need to be. Ususally you log onto the device itself at an address like http://192.168.0.1 or on some brands http://192.168.1.1 from your web browser. Click on those links and I'll bet one of them get you to your router's configuration. They are all menu-driven from there and pretty simple to understand. Enabling the encryption is the minimum level of security you need on the wireless side and should keep out most unwanted guests. The other steps we have discussed will really keep the moochers away.

Before you start changing things around, make sure you know how to reset the router to it's factory state. That way you can feel free to experiment with settings with no fear of hosing it up to the point of making it useless.

J.