I think my Wireless network has been hacked

[trencheel303]

Thanks for help guys, problem seems to be solved... haven't had any unwanted 'visitors' to my network now since I added MAC filtering, changed to AES encryption, changed password for router and the access key aswell. Gonna leave the SSID on for now.

Edit- I do have the option to turn down RF power too, but I like it at 100% if I can. I need the best possible speed from it.

Internet speed isn't directly related to the signal.

Even if you only have one bar of connectivity that will probably still give you faster speeds between you and the router, than you get from the router to the internet, so really, it makes no difference. the internet speed will almost always be the bottlekneck. It just means you won't be able to go as far from it if you lower the signal strength.

 

[onomatopoeia]

Out of interest, I've setup my router to log all activity on it now. However, I have noticed several Firewall notices (about 6 a day). For example:

2010/03/17 09:46:00 	FIREWALL 	 ICMP connection denied from 88.250.12.129:n/a to 82.41.97.30:n/a (vlan1)

The last IP address is mine, but each time the first IP address is different. I looked them up, one was from Japan, one from Australia etc... could this be the hacker trying different methods to get back in? Or any other ideas? :shrug:

No. The original hacker was local to you (in wireless range), these are coming over the internet. I wouldn't worry about ICMP echo requests too much, they fly all over the internet all the time - at home I see way more than you do, way WAY more - my router responds to them though, as do all the devices behind the router.

For one thing you have them disabled (I just tried pinging you to check this, so you'll see me in your log), for another they are harmless. All an answer tells you is that there is something at that IP address.

Unless there's some massive bug in the router firmware (which these days is unlikely in the extreme) people aren't going to be able to hack your router from the internet and they aren't going to be able to get through your router to your computer(s) over the internet - this is why attacking wireless networks is so popular, the security on them is much more likely to be weak as they are configured by home users who often don't know what they are doing.

 

[neil_g]

i wouldnt worry too much about ICMP, in basic terms its just an "echo" that bounces from devices looking for a response to say it exists.

 

[CraigyBoy86]

That's fine, was just checking. Networking is an area my knowledge isn't very good... :bonk:

 

[aligibbs]

Another suggestion (although, one that costs more money) is getting 2/3 ethernet over power plugs. They are about £15-25 each, and connectivity is done over the power you already have in the house. Faster, more secure, and more reliable (from personal experience).

 

[neil_g]

Another suggestion (although, one that costs more money) is getting 2/3 ethernet over power plugs. They are about £15-25 each, and connectivity is done over the power you already have in the house. Faster, more secure, and more reliable (from personal experience).

i love mine.. my editing box is in a wireless dead spot.

32 quid off scan for a pair of 85mbps units.. result

 

[alastairb]

Another suggestion (although, one that costs more money) is getting 2/3 ethernet over power plugs. They are about £15-25 each, and connectivity is done over the power you already have in the house. Faster, more secure, and more reliable (from personal experience).

ethernet over power is less secure as far as i know as i think next door can plug a similar device in and pick up your signal.

Even if you only have one bar of connectivity that will probably still give you faster speeds between you and the router, than you get from the router to the internet, so really, it makes no difference. the internet speed will almost always be the bottlekneck. It just means you won't be able to go as far from it if you lower the signal strength.

not so, a wireless G system is 54mbps in half duplex, which means in either direction the max speed you can get is 27mbps. and that is if one device is using the router, if there are more the speed decreases again so it is not unfeasable at all that the wireless speed will become the bottleneck, expecially with some of the newer cable speeds

alastair

 

[neil_g]

ethernet over power is less secure as far as i know as i think next door can plug a similar device in and pick up your signal.

how often do house share electrical wiring? most of them come with encryption also.

 

[alastairb]

how often do house share electrical wiring? most of them come with encryption also.

circuit breakers do not stop the signal so the signal can leave your house i think, though i am not that familiar with them and didnt spend very long looking into them when i was considering them as an option about a year ago

 

[aligibbs]

ethernet over power is less secure as far as i know as i think next door can plug a similar device in and pick up your signal.

No, they have build in encryption- which yes, could be hacked, but rather more difficult to be. (Also, its very improbable that your neighbour is on the same power system as you)

not so, a wireless G system is 54mbps in half duplex, which means in either direction the max speed you can get is 27mbps. and that is if one device is using the router, if there are more the speed decreases again so it is not unfeasable at all that the wireless speed will become the bottleneck, expecially with some of the newer cable speeds

alastair

More than one device using the internet via wireless? Then surely they will share the internet speed anyway? With N wireless already here, its hardly a limiting factor.

 

[Derek_F]

we had a problem here at work. We were sure someone was trying to hack/kill the work wireless.
Turned out to be someones Iphone causing the chaos