Windows 7: Moved into Dorms want to protect computer

Here is a great site pertaining to computer security



mechBgon's guide for first-time PC builders... Best practices for ongoing security

An excellent guide

Hey, saw this thread, thought it would be useful for me as I will be doing this next year (holy sh*t I'm going to college!)

I have an extra wireless N router (the wireless is touchy) that my dad replaced. I am planning on bringing that and using it as a firewall. Of course, I also have three computers I will be taking....

~Lordbob

Remember to set the MAC addresses of your computers in the router so that they are the only ones that can connect, and set the SSID to no broadcast.

Of course it goes without saying that you have changed the default router password, right?

P.S. - Where are you going to college? (Some folks here may have some helpful advice on things to do/not do, although my advice is that you only regret what you didn't do... )

Indeed I did and will. I will not be using Wireless much, and the Pass will be super secured (30+ random digit code for both SSID pass, and router admin stuff).

Right now, I am taking one class (during high school) at Arizona State University. I want to go to Cal Poly next year though.

~Lordbob

Cal Poly SLO? Oh, man! That school rocks - good teachers, great computer geeks, and some very beautiful people. You WILL enjoy...

Ummmm... How do you plan to remember a 30+ random character password? (I use a yellow sticky on the monitor myself )

Write it down. lol.

Yeah, thats the place. Love the staff, love the area, love the school.

Actually, at one point I did have a 25+ character password (all randomly generated) memorized....

~Lordbob

This works for the average person, but is a speed bump for others. MAC addresses can be spoofed and SSIDs are visible to tools like Kismet, etc. I prefer good old WPA2 with a strong key.

You memorized a random 25 character password? OK, now that is sick

I taught a one day class there on computer security about 10 years ago, and I still remember some of the folks I saw on the campus. I would have forgotten the password in a heart beat.

Anyways, enjoy your time there or wherever you go. You've done a heck of a lot here, and I expect we have not heard the last of "Lord Bob".

I suspect that Lordbob will set that, and memorize the key...