Security through obscurity is not security you can rely on. It has value, but it isn't real security because it provides nothing that can be relied on.
Cheers Ken From: Jonathan Link [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, 20 February 2009 8:04 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: SECURING WIFI ROUTER I really hate this trite expression. It's filled with condecension and a my way is the only right way point of view. It fails to value the role of obscurity in security. If obscurity had no value, honeypots would be useless. If obscurity had no value, Sun-Tzu wouldn't have said " if you are formless, the most penetrating spies will not be able to discern you, or the wisest counsels will not be able to do calculations against you." Obcurity is part of security, security is a process, and just like any process, a missing piece is a missing piece and leave you more vulnerable. Arguments for security should not begin with security through obscurity is false security, but should begin with security through obscurity is not enough security. On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 3:54 PM, Sean Rector <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: He's right on the money. Security through obscurity is a false security. Sean Rector, MCSE From: Carl Houseman [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 3:47 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: SECURING WIFI ROUTER No no no. Those recommendations should be dismissed, they are so "yesterday's idea of security". For anyone who really wants to get in, working around MAC filtering and non-broadcast SID's is a piece of cake. Secure the router or access point with WPA2 and a strong PSK if you can't do 802.1x authentication. When properly secured, it doesn't matter if you're visible or whether your MAC is allowed or not. Further reading: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/index.php?p=43 http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=454 http://www.icsalabs.com/icsa/docs/html/communities/WLAN/wp_ssid_hiding.pdf Carl From: Lee Douglas [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 3:14 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: SECURING WIFI ROUTER In terms of securing, I've seen recommendations to NOT have the router broadcast its SID as well as using MAC filtering. I'm sure all can likely be circumvented, but they just add extra layers and make your neighbors that much more attractive.. On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 3:02 PM, Webb, Brian (Corp) <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: I've seen the same message as well with an HP laptop going to a D-Link WIFI using WPA. The message seems to indicate that you are connected to unsecured network, but I've always been connected to my secured network when I've checked. -Brian -----Original Message----- From: Andy Ognenoff [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 1:57 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: SECURING WIFI ROUTER I've seen that happen too, with the plain old Windows wireless client. WPA2 in my instance, as well. I never did figure out what the problem was but I stopped using WIFI a year ago and just wired my house with CAT5e. At the time it was a Linksys WRT54GL with DD-WRT and an Intel integrated wlan card in a ThinkPad T60. - Andy O. ________________________________________ From: Sam Cayze [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 1:40 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: RE: SECURING WIFI ROUTER Mmm... this doesn't sound like a popup that I am familiar with Windows being capable of generating. It won't even pop up that message with a Wide Open wireless connection (No password needed). Could it be the security center letting you know that the firewall is off, windows update is off, or that virus defs are old? If not that, I suspect it's your AV telling you something, or spyware. ________________________________________ From: Murray Freeman [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 1:33 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: SECURING WIFI ROUTER I hope this is on topic. I have a Dell 700m laptop and a Netgear rangemax mimo "G" router. I'm using WPA2, but from time to time, a baloon pops up from the icon in the systray stating that my connection is unsecure. If I right click and select "view wireless networks" it indicates that my network is in fact secured with WPA2. Any ideas why I get the baloon, and is there another way to insure that I am WPA2 secured in fact? I've noticed this for months now. 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