Security and Lan card

[lostinthefuture]

Just set up my Hp desktop with Windows 7, and learned that the wireless 802 lan card, used for internet service is difficult to keep secure: the signal(s) can be intercepted by housemates/buisnesses nearby.
So I disabled the 802 crd, and I also 'stopped' the (only?) associated service, Wlansrv, (WLAN AUTO CONFIGURE). My internet works fine with the other, wired network adapter.
My question is: does doing what I did actually decrease my security: perhaps the lack of such signal is a giveaway. Does it lead to any software errors?

 

[chev65]

Just set up my Hp desktop with Windows 7, and learned that the wireless 802 lan card, used for internet service is difficult to keep secure: the signal(s) can be intercepted by housemates/buisnesses nearby.
So I disabled the 802 crd, and I also 'stopped' the (only?) associated service, Wlansrv, (WLAN AUTO CONFIGURE). My internet works fine with the other, wired network adapter.
My question is: does doing what I did actually decrease my security: perhaps the lack of such signal is a giveaway. Does it lead to any software errors?

I think you might be confused. The signal is from your wireless router not the LAN card. The connection between the two is what you are seeing.

If you don't want the wireless signal to show up then turn off SSID broadcast in your routers settings. Using WPA-2 with AES encryption should be all you need for a secure wireless network. I believe there is a setting in your wireless profile to allow for a connection even if the SSID isn't being broadcast.

 

[lostinthefuture]

more info lan crd/ router

chev65 , thakyou for the prompt reply. I should have mentioned that I am a beginning computer user; my knowledge is spotty. I looked for the router settings in:'local area connection status', to 'properties', I just see the other (wired?) network adapter. the properties listed do not list anything like "SSID". Where can I find the settings. Also what is a "SSID"?