MAC filters, implementing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeff
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J

Jeff

I have a working home wireless LAN between my desktop (Win 98 SE) and my
laptop (XP Home). I do not use a router as an access point, just 2 808.11b
cards.

I have been reading about wireless security and implemented WEP (I know its
problems) and a private non-specific SSID but have the following questions.

1. Is it possible to implement MAC filtering without a router in the system?
2. Does such a system (2 wireless 802.11b cards) broadcast its SSID and if
so, can this be disabled? How?

Trying to learn.
 
MAC filtering cant be done in a AD-HOC Network. Your SSID is broadcast, but
in an AD-HOC network only 2 computers can be connected at any one time to
each other, so as long as your two computers are networked together, no one
else can connect to you.

Robert....
 
Thank you.

What do I need to do to avoid the desktop from broadcasting when it is not
connected to my laptop? It has a PCI Dlink wireless card and my laptop is
not always on, therefore not always connected.

I do own a DLink router (which I am not using). Won't the Desktop continue
to broadcast its SSID even if I use a router to link it to the laptop?

I am obviously a novice .....

--

Jeff Stevens
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)
 
The only thing you can do to stop broadcasting the desktop SSID is to
manually disable the card when you are not using the network.

If you are using a router, the client cards no longer broadcast SSIDs, only
the router does. And if using a router you will be able to use WEP, and
maybe WPA, encryption for security. You could also use MAC filtering and
even Static IPs with a router to increase security a bit more. Plus using a
router your network connection will be more stable also.

Robert....
 
Thank you.

--

Jeff Stevens
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)
 
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