The story...
I just installed the basic Linksys WAP54G wireless access point (on
WinXP-pro PC). We have simple systems here, all it really is for at moment
is to connect to kids' Wii...so it can retrieve, weather, firmware updates,
etc. I'm using a good security I think WPA-AES (I think), and password, and
disabled SSID broadcast (after this happened).
While setting up wireless, I noticed have maybe 5-6 neighbors with wireless,
recognized 1 or 2, everybody mostly works, certainly no computer-saavy
teenagers, although one's military (great neighbor), and one (adult) is a
little odd and known to do web stuff, but he's 700 feet away (3 houses
down).
But I noticed over the next week or two, twice when I went to use PC in
morning (sometimes left on all night, sometimes shut down)... McAfee was
displaying a warning... something like "Warning your PC is not protected"...
then when went into McAfee to look at settings under its 4 or so protection
categories...
Computers and Files *
Internet/Network
Email and IM
Parental
*The Computers and Files was "disabled", this I think is the one that
instant-scans ANYTHING incoming... like files I open, programs I execute,
etc. I turned it back "on" both times, and once did a McAfee full scan, it
said all ok, except for usual cookies. Adaware didn't find anything either.
The questions...
Wondering if anyone has opinions on these things, plus welcome any
additional comments... Excuse the "true" or "false", but seems best way to
lay out issues. Thanks! -George
T[ ] or F[ ]. It's probably just a coincidence, any number of things could
have turned off protection.
T[ ] or F[ ]. It's unlikely you have a hacker around, not much incentive
for anyone to hack into an everyday-Joe's PC
T[ ] or F[ ]. If someone gets "in" your PC, then have full control, can
look at files, download things, delete, do almost anything you can do
T[ ] or F[ ]. Someone probably did get "in" your PC, and the main reason
was because SSID was broadcasted, and unless you had a drive-by laptop
hacker, the hacker would have been one of the 6 neighbors
T[ ] or F[ ]. You likely have someone who actually got IN your computer.
The way to tell is by _____. And now the action you need to take is____
T[ ] or F[ ]. Someone probably used a tool to disable McAfee, but it would
be harder to get much further
T[ ] or F[ ]. WiFi doesn't go too far, so no way it would reach the guy
three houses down
T[ ] or F[ ]. If you had a hacker, you'd know it, because there would be a
trail and they would likely do some noticeable damage
T[ ] or F[ ]. The fact that you haven't seen this after SSID turned of
means....probably nothing to worry about now, you've done most all
reasonable things you can do