On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 16:05:06 GMT, Rick Dipper
wrote:

Any all your neighbours can see all your data and use your internet
connection, assuming they have got the IQ of a goat, which is all
thats needed to break the standard enceyption on this, even if you set
it up in the first place.

Whilst possible I think that's an extreme point of view. Providing you
take reasonable precautions with wireless installations there's little
to worry about in my view. If you are paranoid about such things then
of course it is a risk, starting from the moment you switch your PC on
without it being connected to any wireless equipment.

You can buy directional aerials for wireless if need be, so unless the
neighbour is in line of sight of the signal it's hardly likely to be
an issue.

Plus if you think that neighbours being able to eavesdrop on your
installation is strictly limited to wireless installations you really
need to expand your knowledge base. I did some work with Plesseys some
years ago and they proved beyond any doubt whatsoever that anything
which isn't installed in a properly secured faraday cage can be
intercepted, and the information re-assembled.

Signals from monitors, printers, cables etc are used all the time by
professional snoopers. Think of a TV - how do you think those guys can
sit in their van down the street and tell you which channel you are
watching and where the TV is located, before they hit you for license
evasion?

I grant you that your average neighbour probably isn't likely to go to
those extremes, but anything is possible.

Andrew