Hardwiring the modum to the Computer?

paddywanpeep wrote:

While I do agree hard-wired eliminates the potential of a WIFI vulnerability, I would like to understand how an unsecured WIFI network showing up in my Manage Wireless Connections list would pose a security issue.

It doesn't, and he really doesn't understand what he is talking about.

Actually, this is the first plan of attack when someone is hell bent on gaining access to any network.

The list mentioned by mike is a compiled list of networks that you may have had access to. . . it doesn't matter whether you were successful in gaining entry or not. It stays there and kept in memory until you decide to remove it on your network settings.

This is another way of keeping the mantra “user friendly”. Just another added convenience , that in the end compromises security.

If I were a hacker (believe me I'm not), this is the first thing I would try to snoop first. If some guy in the neighborhood is careless enough not to lock his – network I can use his modem without his knowledge. . . that could save me a hundred bucks or more on web access monthly bill.

I know a friend who is a science teacher who's been using his next-door neighbor's modem for years and both of them didn't even know until the other guy moved out. They were really good friends so, things like these didn't cross their minds. I bet they even laughed when they discovered it.

The separation between houses in the track (a typical California housing track) was about five feet wall to wall. You can literally hear people talking in each other's dining room.

BTW: Some in the network list may have a TTL (time to live) which means they will not show on your machine the moment you are out of range. That will explain you won't find any when you are in a campground.