New Network Security Issue?

if you have a WLAN set up at home and have two computers directly connected to the router/modem (all in one) via ethernet and then someone uses your wireless connection for illegal downloads, would any of this show up on your pcs? I've heard of people stealing wireless access for illegal downloads etc and have often wondered if they weren't caught what would be found on the pcs of those who simply left their wireless unsecured. I know some routers keep logs, but i'm talking something as simply as a low end 2wire home portal. Mine only tells you the pcs connected to the network and the their ip address. It is my undestanding that without an actual computer set up as a server or a router that kept logs, none of these web site requests would show up on the other pcs. The job of the router is rout info to the right area so the pc on wirless should be only communicating with the router and that particular pc. Some exceptions may be shared printers, files, etc. Am I correct? just curious, thanks.

Most routers keep logs of DHCP leases, but not individual website requests. PCs sharing a connection don't keep logs of each others' activities unless, as you assumed, one is specifically set up to do so.

If you're asking, then, whether someone using your unsecured (why, by the way, would it be unsecured?) wireless network to download naughty pictures or pirated music would leave a trace on the other computers on the network, the answer is no. Unless, that is, the pirate in question purposefully accessed the other computers on the network and left the files there.

The moral of the story is: Don't run an unsecure network, wireless or otherwise. Your gateway should come with adequate if not extensive documentation on wireless network security and encryption.

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thanks for the info, I agree, no reason to leave your wireless unsecured

oups

Yeh, I have mine left unsecured, but no one around me has wireless, and the range doesnt even go through my whole house. So there

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

Atleast that's what you think. If I come to your neighborhood with a home made directional wireless antenna and point it at your house, do you really think I won't see your network? Think again. Even if your laptop doesn't see it, if I boost up the strength of my receiver enough, it will see your wireless.

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We have an arcade.

Uhm... "Home made" you say? They proffesionaly make things for a reason (so you dont get hurt)

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

Yeah, but I'm too cheap. Besides breaking into networks and "fabricating" neccessary tools to do so is part of my job. The Navy teaches me how so that I don't get hurt .

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We have an arcade.

I thought what you did was "top secret" pfft... now that I know what you do, Im gunna tell the press!

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

No, not so much what I do, just How, When, and Where is.

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We have an arcade.

may i add that your gateway needs to keep logs. i dont care if your network is secure it can still be exploited. and we will asume that the hacker spoofed their packets, but in their log will be the real mac address or number. now this might not lead to catching them but with the feds in your lab it sure goes a long way toward clearing you from what ever reason the feds are there. now i know we dont have alot of this going on but my rule of thumb is that the host logs everything just in case. its alot easier to go look at the logs if something doesnt seem right then sitting around guess as to whats going on. But it doesnt stop here you need to make your logs copy themselves so if something happens like say if a log was found and deleted. one of the first things a hacker is going to do is run a script to "bash" the logs. thats why its wise to save them at odd places just to make it harder to find.