Traffic Safety on a network

[dfs4]

if I were to share a secured dsl wifi connection with someone else.. would it be possible for others on the network to sniff or through any other possible means available get access to passwords or content I browse???

 

[Barman58]

It is possible to have access to a DSL system via a router without sharing local files, after all this is what happens at every coffee shop with free Wifi access

The "trick" is to make sure that the network is set to private which will disable the file and printer sharing and network discovery (by default, unless this has been edited).

If you have an existing multiple user system where sharing is already set-up, and wish to add an extra system with just internet access you should, dependent on your router, be able to enable guest access to the net but with no sharing access, (this may be the best option as the security would be managed in the Router, and i's hardware firewall/NAT)

One thing to ensure whichever way you go is to use strong passwords on all systems and especially the router, (both the wireless security and the router admin account)

 

[aem]

if I were to share a secured dsl wifi connection with someone else.. would it be possible for others on the network to sniff or through any other possible means available get access to passwords or content I browse???

From logging onto your machine or the person you share the wifi connection with, the password to the SSID can be known and distributed. Without the security key known, i think it might be difficult to access the network otherwise. Just secure the router's admin logon password and don't use the same when creating the SSID and you should be fine.

 

[dfs4]

well I have a 2701HG-G Gateway. I have set the network file sharing and everything else off on my laptop in the advanced sharing settings of the network or wireless connection. but just thought with all that security anda comodo firewall on my laptop.. is it technically possible to sniff traffic or through other possible way .. if someone is going to be able to get access to stuff I browse and or my passwords(yes I know I sound paranoid lol.. but I'm just asking). other people have access to the router/modem with admin password access to the router.

 

[Barman58]

The bad news is that given physical access to the router and the required software and the rights to use it on the network, it is possible to have access to your passwords etc.

The good news is that this would be a fairly complex exercise, and is highly unlikely to actually happen.

The technique would have to be applied either in the router or beyond it, (from your point of access), as I assume that the link to the router is WPA2 encrypted.

A network sniffer would have to be attached to the system and the results decoded and analysed.

If the data and passwords would be of such a value to the others to make this work worthwhile, and they have the finance, skills and desire to obtain the information, then the set-up you have would need to be changed. If the data is not worth the considerable effort involved then you should be safe with the measures mentioned above.