Type of Connection

**CWBillow** · 2005-07-23 07:10

If I am on a home network, and my pc is wireless to the base station machine, which is connected to the net via cable modem, is my pc considered connected to the net via cable modem or wireless if I am asked during firewall install?

Regards,
Chuck Billow

**bigaldoc** · 2005-07-23 09:56

What do you mean by "...wireless to the base station machine..." ?? Is your computer connected to a ROUTER via wireless? If so, I'd say your machine is connected to the web by CABLE. But then again, I don't do wireless, so I could be wrong.

**DaveA** · 2005-07-23 12:48

I agree with Al. The Router is connected to the internet by the cable modem, it does not matter how the computer is connected to the router, you still have a Cable connection.

**DocWatson** · 2005-07-23 14:18

Make that three who agree. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

**jscher2000** · 2005-07-23 15:32

Which firewall asks this, and what do its help screens say? Perhaps the choice is related to special features for wireless networks and we should understand the context in more detail before answering.

**CWBillow** · 2005-07-23 17:08

Jefferson:

It's the ZoneAlarm that's asking... And it doesn't seem to help much itself...

Chuck

**CWBillow** · 2005-07-23 17:10

K guys... So it IS a cable connection... That's what I had thought, I just wasn't sure...

Thanks,
Chuck

**CWBillow** · 2005-07-23 17:17

But then, from a firewall standpoint, is my internal network considered 'trusted'...?

I can often 'see' other networks out there, so they can see me, yes? Can they "break through"?

Regards,
Chuck

**DaveA** · 2005-07-23 19:36

"often 'see' other networks " are your neighbor's wireless network(s) that your router has found.

A wireless router is going to list ALL signals it finds.

**CWBillow** · 2005-07-23 20:18

Dave:

So if it sees them, they can (?) See me, so, can they "link on"? The router has a purported firewall (MN-700 router), so is it blocking?

And if I am wireless, as wireless is (obviously) new to me, can others get into me without going through the router/firewall?

>>But I AM "Cable" as Zone Alarm sees me?

Chuck

**StuartR** · 2005-07-23 20:26

What security have you configured for your Wireless network? The MN700 supports WPA which should be configured with a complex pass-phrase.
If you have just turned it on out of the box then it is likely that others can see your computers.

StuartR

**CWBillow** · 2005-07-23 20:48

Stuart:

That's the funny thing: if I go to grc.com, I test as secure and hidden. So, apparently, I can see them, but they cannot see me?

But my real concern is this:

Let us say that my other (base station) pc does NOT run any firewall but that in the router. I am connected to that station via wireless. I run Zone Alarm.

Can I run the network as "Trusted" allowing file transfers etc., or is the lack of a firewall on the other machine going to mean that I therefore am unprotected unless I do NOT treat the home network as trusted?

Regards,
Chuck

**StuartR** · 2005-07-23 20:53

grc.com is attempting to see your PC via the internet and your router.

Wireless network security is needed to prevent people seeing your PC via radio waves outside your house. These are not coming from the Internet and will appear (to the router) to be part of your trusted network.

You really should configure Wireless network security using WPA and a good pass phrase.

StuartR

**CWBillow** · 2005-07-23 20:57

OK Stuart...

???

'Cause when I just looked in the XP help, it says "here's how to add a wireless network to your trusted zone...

But isn't it already? And don't I want it that way? So what then will stop "intruders"?

Chuck

**jscher2000** · 2005-07-23 21:22

There are two modes for your wireless network card, "infrastructure" and "ad hoc" (these may go under other names). In the first mode, no one can connect to you. You can connect to wireless access points or wireless routers, and you have control over how your computer is networked. Try not to connect to strangers. In the second mode, you have a "peer to peer" network in which others can connect directly to your computer with the wireless card. For obvious reasons, this is less secure.

Okay, let's assume you are running in infrastructure mode so that your only wireless network connections are ones that you initiate to your router. You can then make that a trusted connection, since you are dealing with addresses inside your home network only. When a computer contacts you from outside your router, it will have a different IP address than your internal network, and will not be treated as trusted.

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