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Friday, March 19, 2004

How To Protect Your Wireless Router From Assholes Like Me   (1)  Enable WEP encryption. Of the 6 wireless routers in my neighborhood, mine is the only one that is encrypted. You probably have a firmware set IP address for the router like http://192.168.0.1 (as in D-Link, my router). When you type it in your browser, you can change settings. If you’re not encrypted, assholes like me can also look up the IP and defaults for your router on the internet and play with your settings. (2)  Use a strong password on your administrator account and change the login from the default. Any asshole in the world can see the defaults for your router; it’s really easy, because it broadcasts it by default. If they can get on your WLAN, and have the default passwords, they can steal your bandwidth and dick with your settings. (3)  Do not broadcast your SSID! If they (we) can’t find you, they can’t log on. (4)  Use 128-bit encryption on your WEP. A serious hacker can sniff out your packets and have access in a matter of hours if you use 64-bit. It will take many days if you use 128-bit. (5)  Rotate your WEP keys. By default you have 4. Change them on all the wireless systems at least weekly. Keep them dissimilar so any characters sniffed out in hack attempts will be useless when you change the key. (6)  Secure your LAN.   Most generally innocuous assholes like myself will not bother you if you take these simple precautions. If Ashcroftian assholes are out to get you, you’re already fucked because they don’t really need any evidence, all they have to do is call you an enemy combatant and then you will have absolutely no rights whatsoever. Rule (7): Don’t piss off Ashcroft! Then your wireless LAN is reasonably secure. 8:54:46 PM    comment []

Where’s The Partridge?   If the pear blossoms aren’t a valid predictor of spring, then how about the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, which re-opens tomorrow? I’ll be there. The best of the blossoms has passed already, but it has been raining, chilly, and overcast all week and so today was the first where there was good light. 5:23:27 PM    comment []

An image search on “duvet” led me to this UK site. Hubble telescope pictures, scantily clad young ladies, and poetry both justified and sprawling. I think it’s all an ad  of sorts, but the banner that says “easy money” leads you to an innocuous web services site. Your curiosity (at least mine) will eventually cause you to click on it. This is a magnificent example of what used to be called a “soft sell.” Nothing annoying there, no pop-ups, no flashing “YOU”VE ALREADY WON!” banners – just imagery and words. More. . .      Sometimtes alphanumerica aliens extradicted from North Yorkshire Canals will ampersand their DIM's, causing most Dinner ladies to strike action on French shipping ports. Contentless drivel drives contracters to do the do fango, thunderbolts of lightening, very very frightening. Todays text justification just in, Justin's Trade game gives gardeners T-Total demilitarisation. Exciting insert! 5:59:28 AM    comment []