Comments on: Eircom Security – More Bad News and Some Suggested Solutions

By: Bart B

Bart B — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:16:14 +0000

Hi Tony,

You are right that with a regular WiFi antenna the range of a Netopia is not that far. However, things change when you use a directional antenna. You don’t need to be too advanced to get significant distance improvements. Something as simple as a Pringles tube makes a useful directional antenna. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantenna

That’s why you can’t rely on what you think is your range for protection. Assume the attacker likes crisps

Bart.

By: Tony Lawlor

Tony Lawlor — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:20:18 +0000

I do not think it’s such a big deal as the distance that the netopia wireless transmits is pityfull. I have my Netopia 2247nwg-vx in my frontroom and I cannot pick up the wireless connection from my kitchen just down the hall. Someone trying to piggyback on my signal would need to be sitting on my doorstep. However if ppl are concerbed WPA-PSK is the way to go as WEP is very weak notwithstanding Eircoms own issues.

By: Bart B

Bart B — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:18:54 +0000

Hi wreade1872, that is indeed worrying. It certainly shouldn’t be happening. All I can think of is that either your router is faulty or one of your neighbours is cracking your WEP key (trivial to do, hence actual security experts telling people to use WPA or WPA2) and re-setting it to default.

Neither are particularly good. Were I in your situation I’d be contacting Eicrom and looking for a new router and then setting it up with the highest version of WPA it supports.

Good luck!

Bart.

By: wreade1872

wreade1872 — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:25:35 +0000

Hi there i changed my wep hex code just picked the letters and numbers at random then saved it to a secret text file, anyway every so often my router stops working and i’ve discovered that the router hex has been changed from what i set it to. I don’t know if it reset to default or something else set it but its very annoying and a little worrying.

By: ema

ema — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 02:01:45 +0000

thanx a lot Bart!!!!!

By: Bart B

Bart B — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:17:29 +0000

Hi Ema,

This page has detailed instructions and screen shots to illustrate the process: http://broadbandsupport.eircom.net/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/&/?St=6&E=0000000000093087718&K=8581&SXI=11&case=setupwpa&branch=4

Bart.

By: ema

ema — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:44:46 +0000

how to change WEP to WPA?? i need help!!!

By: Bart B

Bart B — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:25:44 +0000

Hi John,

Great to hear from you again … isn’t the web a small place

I’ll drop you a mail at the address you left with your comment.

Bart.

By: John Collins

John Collins — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:36:57 +0000

I come looking for help, and look who I find!! How’s the form now?? So, eircom security….bad huh? Spent a weekend back in Maynooth last month. Must say I thoroughly enjoyed it…

By: ERIK_B

ERIK_B — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:18:24 +0000

just a quick thanks to bart b for yor reply!
as for my ‘mysterious ‘ and hghly sophisticated password construction, the answer , honestly , is as follows- i selected 5 numbers at random , dice throw. picked onr at random, looked at the corresponind bookshelf in my sitting room , picked another book from another random number pick, then used six multiples of the 5 random number to select 6 pages from book- used a further 10 random numbers to select 10 word positions therein- ultimately, after a lot of time i ended up with a 40 letter random key. suffices to say i need to get out more/work more/ something!! thanks again !