[u-u] Suggestions for stopping occasional spurious use of commercial wi-fi

[David Gilbert]

On 2018-09-16 1:45 p.m., David Collier-Brown wrote:
>
> I have a Rogers-supplied router and cable modem package, which twice
> has shown significant usage when I was out, once with the original
> unit and once with their replacement Cisco.  That makes me suspicious
> of the current state of authentication for wi-fi schemes (and I use
> the term "schemes" advisedly: they used to horribly leaky (;-))
>
> What's a good approach? I have considered
>
>   * MAC address lists,
>   * no wi-fi (strictly wired doesn't work with solid concrete walls),
>   * a second router with a more secure protocol (/is/ there such a
>     protocol? And will my wife's Mac speak it?))
>   * something I haven't thought of
>
> --dave
>
> [The usage never runs me over my limit: I think someone is using me
> for downloads that might put /them/ over their limit
>
Given that most closed-source routers are simply an invitation to
hacking, I generally try to make sure my connections are all layer-2
(you can't easily attack something that does not have an address).

Similarly, a small metal box is a good place to put their wifi (although
their wifi tends to be less effectual in layer-2 mode).  You may also be
able to turn off the wifi.

WEP2 is pretty good tech.  It's at least fairly difficult to break
(depending on who's talking).  Most new routers support it, but I
suggest looking into pfsense on some pfsense supported hardware.

That-all-said... rogers?  Ugh.


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