A couple computer questions

[Fear The Spear]

1) How do you lock up the security on a wireless computer, to keep people from being able to hack into your wireless network ? It's not a laptop, but a desktop with a wireless router, if that makes a difference. And it's Windows XP.

2) How do people videotape music demos of themselves singing on youtube ? Do they usually use webcams or camcorders and then upload the video ? And how do some of them get such good audio quality on them ? It seems like on a webcam or camcorder, you're going to get too much reverb from the ambient sound going thru the video cam. So do you need a special microphone for that ?

 

[Lanky Livingston]

1) You can encrypt the router signal using WEP, so anyone who wants to use your signal needs the proper passwords. Another option is a MAC filter - you can set a list of accepted MAC addresses that can get on the internet using your signal. This is less secure than the WEP option, however.

2) No idea!

 

[Nobody]

Lanky was dead on for number 1. For number 2, anything that records video can be uploaded to youtube if you have a way to email it or hook it directly to your computer.

For the ultra high quality you were asking about, HD camcorders are ridiculously cheap now for the quality you get. Sony makes several for around $200. For the HD audio, more expensive cameras will have onboard HD audio, but for super clarity you really have to pay out your ear. The best option in that case is to get a high quality mic or boom mic that you plug in directly to your camcorder.

To upload, just connect your cable from the camcorder to the USB port on your computer. You'll see it's not complicated once you do it. You can also make videos on your PC, or edit videos/pics and format them into a video and upload to youtube after publishing.

 

[SkinnedAussie]

A little game for those inclined is called War Driving, where you drive around your neighborhood and try to find unsecured wireless networks. I can remember years ago that I happened to find one, right on the edge of my signal, whilst at home, but it was with someone else's laptop.

When I got my modem, I also got a card with the SSID and WAP codes on it. I just set-up the modem using those codes as the password and security #, and that was it.

 

[Neophyte]

If you are serious about wireless security, Extreme, use WPA and not WEP. WEP is easily cracked these days and viewed as just slightly better than nothing at all.

Another suggestion would be to turn off boardcast of your SSID from the router so the someone has to actually know what your SSID is to connect. You could go to greater extremes as well but those two should solve nearly anything you might have issues with on a home network.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I was not aware that WEP was no longer the status quo. Thanks!

 

[Nobody]

If you are serious about wireless security, Extreme, use WPA and not WEP. WEP is easily cracked these days and viewed as just slightly better than nothing at all.

Another suggestion would be to turn off boardcast of your SSID from the router so the someone has to actually know what your SSID is to connect. You could go to greater extremes as well but those two should solve nearly anything you might have issues with on a home network.

I have WPA2 on mine, but that's only because my router was pre-equipped with it. Everyone else I know uses WEP.

Looking at the list of network names in my cul de sac is hilarious though.

 

[Neophyte]

And now you know why I disable broadcast on mine. No one needs to know my network name is Bobs_Nasty_Porn. Oh...wait...

 

[Fear The Spear]

1) You can encrypt the router signal using WEP, so anyone who wants to use your signal needs the proper passwords. Another option is a MAC filter - you can set a list of accepted MAC addresses that can get on the internet using your signal. This is less secure than the WEP option, however.

If you are serious about wireless security, Extreme, use WPA and not WEP. WEP is easily cracked these days and viewed as just slightly better than nothing at all.

Another suggestion would be to turn off boardcast of your SSID from the router so the someone has to actually know what your SSID is to connect. You could go to greater extremes as well but those two should solve nearly anything you might have issues with on a home network.

I have WPA2 on mine, but that's only because my router was pre-equipped with it. Everyone else I know uses WEP.

Looking at the list of network names in my cul de sac is hilarious though.

Could you guys please elaborate and explain these acronyms - WEP, WPA, SSID, and WPA2 ? I know nothing about these terms, so I have no idea how they work, or how to incorporate them into my computer's security.

 

[Nobody]

Could you guys please elaborate and explain these acronyms - WEP, WPA, SSID, and WPA2 ? I know nothing about these terms, so I have no idea how they work, or how to incorporate them into my computer's security.

Simply put, the SSID is the name of your network. You can name it watever you want to, within the character limitations provided by your ISP or router.

WEP, WPA and WPA2 do the same thing, some just better than others. It goes WEP<WPA<WPA2. WPA2 is the newest and most secure. You don't really need to bother to learn the terminology or anything, because your router or modem will automatically be equipped with one of these options. All newer devices (post 2006 I believe) are automatically equipped with WPA/WPA2 with an option for WEP. Essentially, it is just an encryption program that prevents unauthorized users from accessing your information and files.

You also have the option to have your network public, not encrypted, and not password protected. Don't go that route though, because any jackass that wants to can access anything on your network without your knowledge.

 

[Fear The Spear]

Thanks guys. I'll research this further

 

[Fear The Spear]

This is the steps I found. But it's extremely unhelpful.
It keeps telling me to "verify such and such" but does not tell me how to verify, etc.
It's too vague, and too technical.
Can someone simplify it ?

http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/winxpnetworking/ht/wpainwindowsxp.htm

Here's How:

1. Verify each Windows computer on the network is running Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or greater. WPA cannot be configured on older versions of Windows XP or older versions of Microsoft Windows.
2. For any Windows XP computer running SP1 or SP2, update the operating system to XP Service Pack 3 or newer for best WPA/WPA2 support.

XP Service Pack 1 computers do not support WPA by default and cannot support WPA2. To upgrade an XP SP1 computer to support WPA (but not WPA2), either
* install the Windows XP Support Patch for Wi-Fi Protected Access from Microsoft, or
* upgrade the computer to XP SP2

XP Service Pack 2 computers by default support WPA but not WPA2. To upgrade an XP SP2 computer to also support WPA2, install the Wireless Client Update for Windows XP SP2 from Microsoft.
3. Verify your wireless network router (or other access point) supports WPA. Because some older wireless access points do not support WPA, you many need to replace yours. If necessary, upgrade the firmware on the access point according to the manufacturer's directions to enable WPA on it.
4. Verify each wireless network adapter also supports WPA. Obtain a device driver upgrade from the adapter manufacturer if necessary. Because some wireless network adapters cannot support WPA, you may need to replace them.
5. On each Windows computer, verify that its network adapter is compatible with the Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) service. Consult the adapter's product documentation, manufacturer's Web site, or appropriate customer service department for details on WZC. Upgrade the network adapter driver and configuration software to support WZC on clients if necessary.
6. Apply compatible WPA settings on each Wi-Fi device. These settings cover network encryption and authentication.

The WPA encryption keys (or passphrases) chosen must match exactly between devices.

For authentication, two versions of Wi-Fi Protected Access exist called WPA and WPA2. To run both versions on the same network, ensure the access point is configured for WPA2 mixed mode. Otherwise, you must set all devices to WPA or WPA2 mode exclusively.

Wi-Fi products use a few different naming conventions to describe types of WPA authentication. Set all equipment to use either Personal/PSK or Enterprise/*EAP options.

 

[SkinnedAussie]

If you want to know all the passwords for your router, have a look for a label that will have everything you need.

You might find it has the WPA code, the SSID number, and/or a password. Just type them in on your computer when prompted to do so, and voila, you are connected and nobody else can connect to your network unless they have all the appropriate codes.