Secured or unsecured wireless network?

[Balmong7]

I have about 10 devices on my Wireless network at home and i recently made it a secured wireless network because the router kept reseting the password and i would have to change all my settings for every computer in the house. I was recently given a project in school to see if secured networks are better than unsecured and i would like to have opinons. With as many computers as i have on my network should i use a secured or unsecured network?

 

[Willwillwritehiswill]

Uh... Secured is surely far superior. unless you're running an internet cafe or something.

Edit: Also, Welcome to The Escapist.

 

[snide_cake]

Coming from an ISP Technical Support background I can say that we recommended it was better to have things secured.

The fact that computers can store the password etc makes it a quick process for them to locate the broadcasted network and confirm the password.

I wouldn't think it would be an issue concerning the number of devices you have IN the house, so much as the potential number of devices in the vicinity that might leech your signal. So if you are in an apartment or suburbian situation you will find that securing your wireless signal will benefit you greatly.

There was one call where a lady was very confused, because people would park across the street and use her internet from there. We helped her secure her connection and her feedback, received a few days later, advised us that her speed was back up and people were no longer parking nearby to leech her signal.

I do know that devices such as Nintendo DS have issues with WPA/WPA2 security, so in that case it would be more beneficial to have WEP or no security on the router. Having WEP is pretty much like having no security anyways - anyone pretty much over the age of 9 half-inclined to with a smidge of hacking knowledge could breach WEP and leech your signal.

Those are the only issues I can think of in regards to secured vs non-secured.

Other issues with wireless occurs when there are several signals overlapping and using the same channel, not just from other routers but also cordless phones (especially Panasonic Unidens) and microwaves.

EDIT: I run 6 wireless devices (desktop computers, laptops and XBox 360) from my modem/router with a secured WPA2 wireless network and not had any issues in regards to verification of passwords or compromised bandwidth due to encryption. I can also see two other wireless networks broadcasting near my location, which means they more than likely can see mine and I have no doubts they would leech off mine (even if unintentionally) if it were not secured.

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

We don't just run a secured network, we restrict connections to our access point based on a device's MAC address. So not only do you need a password to authenticate, you can't even connect unless you're on a list of allowed machines.

 

[Kragg]

i dont think i understand the question: what is better, having you door locked or unlocked ... huh?

 

[Irridium]

Secured.

We had it unsecured for a while. And it was slow as all hell.
Funny thing is when we finally secured it, our neighbors were wondering if we were having troubles with our internet.

Fucking vultures...

 

[DividedUnity]

I have my network unsecured for 2 reasons

1) Its too slow for anyone to steal it anyway

2) Its alot easier to reconnect my ps3 to it as I dont keep my network permenantly set up

 

[Jibblejab]

Secured definately. I personally use WEP security with a custom password and dont see any problems with it, i like a custom password that I know because I very frequently have friends who need to use my wifi and I cant for the life of me remember any complex passwords

 

[yourbeliefs]

Secured. You never know who can be jumping on and using your network and sucking up your bandwidth. I don't want to experience laggy games because some asshole is using my connection to stream internet porn. I moved into a campus house with my wife and I went into the router and there were at least 20 devices listed in the DHCP table (only 4 people lived in the apartment at the time.) I secured it and then the device number went down to 6.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Secured. Aside from all mentioned above, your IP address will be linked to any shenanigans which other people perform using your connection.

If someone else is using your connection to download child porn, and the IP address gets tagged by the feds, they will come knocking on your door about it.

 

[dsmops2003]

Secured definately. I personally use WEP security with a custom password and dont see any problems with it, i like a custom password that I know because I very frequently have friends who need to use my wifi and I cant for the life of me remember any complex passwords

You may want to change that to WPA2 WEP is waaaay to easy to crack *coucgh* backtrack *cough*

 

[Jibblejab]

Secured definately. I personally use WEP security with a custom password and dont see any problems with it, i like a custom password that I know because I very frequently have friends who need to use my wifi and I cant for the life of me remember any complex passwords

You may want to change that to WPA2 WEP is waaaay to easy to crack *coucgh* backtrack *cough*

My router wont let me have a custom WPA as my security, only the defualt WPA key or a custom WEP

 

[GodsAndFishes]

Unless the hassle is FAR FAR FAR too great to have a secure network I'd always have it secure, I don't want random people logging onto my network and causing it to be shut down...
*begins rant on the digital economy bill*

 

[wordsmith]

Unsecured.

I believe in Karma. I'll set the scene for you.

It's midnight. You're frantically hammering away at keys to get something done, something that is so important, it needs to be typed up and sent NOW (I'd say an essay, but I know we've got older guys on here, so let's say an article, maybe an email to a concerned friend to reassure them of something). *plink* Your wi-fi drops out. We've all had the problem. You click the icon, try and see if it's software side. Nothing. You go to the router, you reset the router. Nothing. There's something wrong with the actual router/your connection.

Your way of thinking: You load up "Find Wireless networks". Everyone is nice and secure, and you're not getting ANYWHERE, fuck off you free-loading hobo.

My way of thinking: 4 open wireless ports, you hop on and send your crap, then hop off again.

See, if everyone opened their connections, the world would be a better place. You'd never have to worry about needing to check train, bus or plane times on your laptop, because you can always connect. Piracy convictions go down, because if you get accused, it's on the accuser to prove it was you who downloaded that stuff.

I mean, by all means, lock it when you've got stuff to do and you need the bandwidth, but at the end of the day if you don't have usage limits (which is another thing of almighty bollocks by the way), you're paying for a connection *that you're not using* the majority of the time.

So make the world a better place. Go Open.

 

[Dragonborne88]

Secured, with a MAC address lockout as well. Only the 4 machines with the MAC addresses I specify are able to get into the network. Any other machines, even if they get the WEP key right will not be able to connect.

 

[black lincon]

depends on the home I'm currently it(parents are divorced, I'm not uber-rich) at the home where I control the wifi I secure it because I live in townhomes and there are people who could steal it if they so chose, so I don't let them. At my dads house however(although I should say his wifes house) my step brother regulates the wifi, and he leaves it unsecured because they live in the middle of a 2 acre plot of land and in order to steal the wifi you would have to stand in an open field holding a laptop or itouch or something like that, and that would look kind of conspicuous.

 

[dmase]

I have mine unsecured just so i don't have to worry about keeping a piece of paper with a password. I check my router occasionaly to see whats on and its just the normal stuff I'm running I do live far enough away that my neighbors probably couldn't get a signal. If i lived in an area where people lived closer i would probably secure it.

 

[Trivun]

Secured, always. No matter how many devices you're using. Unless you enjoy getting viruses, malware, spyware and hackers trying to gain access to your personal files and details...

 

[dsmops2003]

Secured definately. I personally use WEP security with a custom password and dont see any problems with it, i like a custom password that I know because I very frequently have friends who need to use my wifi and I cant for the life of me remember any complex passwords

You may want to change that to WPA2 WEP is waaaay to easy to crack *coucgh* backtrack *cough*

My router wont let me have a custom WPA as my security, only the defualt WPA key or a custom WEP

What model?

 

[Pielikey]

Mines' Secure at the moment.
Although going on vacation I always hook up to an unsecure one. I think there should be a Holiday celebrating people who have unsecure wireless networks called "linksys".