Can not using WEP be key safe ? 

 
 
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Joined  2005-07-21

• I have trouble getting the MacBookIntel on to our home wireless. Sometimes it does it automatically for weeks. Sometimes it won’t connect whatever I do.
The older iMac (PPc) wireless has no problems with this.

• When I disable the WEPKEY, MacBook immediately gets on the web.
But now I am open for all wireless users in the neighbourhood.

• However, in the settings of the router I inserted the Mac Addresses of the two computers that can have access.

QUESTION:
Is my connection safe not using a WEP-password but having MAC-addresses as sentinels ?

Thanks

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Joined  2005-06-14

Mac addressing should be fine. That is all I use, it’s just a little more hassle when you want to add someone to your network because you have to add the mac address instead of just entering a password. You could also change the ssid and create a closed network so your ssid is not put out there for everyone to see.

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Thank you so much for your answer. So if I understand it correctly, the router will not accept a computer on the network if the MAC address has not been given to the settings.

Now the ssid. I think this is the name of the network. What you suggest is making this name invisible to other users, in fact to all users including myself. Right ?
So no-one can be tempted to get on my network because it “isn’t” there. In the settings I see ssid broadcast enabled. So if I disable that, the network becomes invisible for others, still we (our computers) will be able to connect.

Can I ask another question? The way I understand is Firewalls are ways to close ports so nobody can get into your computer.
What I don’t understand is if I have a firewall how come I can get out, like mail and internet. Doesn’t that imply that there must still be some doors, ports, open ?
And if I’m still correct, if it is so dangerous to leave all ports open, why aren’t they set closed by default?

Anyway, I’m glad about your answer about MacIntosh Addresses. It shows again how far ahead the Mac is since every computer uses it. VIVA APPLE INC !

______________________________________________________________________________

I konw tihs isn’t ture, I jsut wnaetd to chgane soemnoe’s boold prussere.

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Yes that is correct, if the mac address is not registered with the router a connection cannot happen.

Yes, if you do not broadcast your ssid then a person cannot just choose your network from a menu. They would have to know you had a network and the exact name of the network to join it.

I don’t know as much about firewalls, they seem to typically come with the common ports open like for mail but I may be wrong.

mac = media access control