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Wifi Router Question


gawguy

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I have an older wifi router that works fine. It only has WEP though so I almost never use wifi. I use it to route four LAN cables that I use all the time.

 

My question is: Even though wifi is turned off on my computers, can a hacker get to my computers through the router which has wifi permanently on? (On that router I don't see a switch or a setting in the firmware to turn off wifi.)

 

Thanks,

Gaw Guy

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A hacker could probably get into your network over time if they were persistant enough but a decent password including a mix of characters (mixed case), numbers and symbols will keep them out for a long time - if you are talking about the ordinary guy on the street then very little chance provinding you have a decent password on the router.

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It appears you are asking if a hacker can get to you via wifi to a wifi router when you have wifi turned off on your machine. If this is your question then the answer is:

 

Absolutely not.

 

Now then, if you are using the router as a hub.... line into the device from the ISP then line out of the device to your machine.... then the answer is "YES." This is because you have a direct link to the router.

 

Since hubs are about $10, using a wifi router in an area you question is not very wise.

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It appears you are asking if a hacker can get to you via wifi to a wifi router when you have wifi turned off on your machine. If this is your question then the answer is:

 

Absolutely not.

 

Now then, if you are using the router as a hub.... line into the device from the ISP then line out of the device to your machine.... then the answer is "YES." This is because you have a direct link to the router.

 

Since hubs are about $10, using a wifi router in an area you question is not very wise.

 

I bought a new router. I wanted wifi capability (for rare occasions) with the option to turn off wifi on the router so my router will not broadcast. I asked about that at the store and was told I could turn it off with the software. I can get to the router setup by entering its IP in my browser. I see a lot of options, but nothing that just says wifi on/off. It's a linksys router - what should I be looking for in the options?

 

I want to leave it off and work via LAN.

 

Thanks,

Gaw Guy

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Log into router via web browser as you have done and Wireless "Network Mode" drop down option DISABLE

 

The process was slighty tricky as the option to "Enable/Disable SSID broadcast" was hidden behind a not so obvious option. But it's off now and I'm using the router in the wired mode.

 

The Comcast tech had come out because at one point I lost phone service during the process of resetting modem and scheduled an appointment. The phone came back on after about two hours, but I let the appointment stand. Good thing cause he replaced the modem with a newer one, capable of even more speed he said, and now I'm getting Download 24.55 Mbps / Upload 3.81. Before the change it was about 18 down. My monthly to Comcast isn't cheap: Basic cable TV, Internet, Phone - $170 US.

 

Thanks for the help lads!

GG

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