Anonymous A started this discussion 12 years ago#38,195
Someone in my family has a laptop, that due to some software issue refuses to connect with WPA encryption to the wireless router I have. So I've disabled the security, set the network to open but configured the router so only whitelisted MAC addresses can connect. How safe is this? I'm guessing since it's an unencrypted signal that a neighbor with a packet sniffer could snoop, but the signal can barely be picked up outside the house and my neighbors aren't (or at least don't appear) to be the 1337 H4X0R type.
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 11 minutes later[^][v]#511,272
Technically it's quite easy to break into. An attacker can snoop the mac addresses in use (assuming they are active at that moment), deauth them, then spoof them.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 1 hour later, 1 hour after the original post[^][v]#511,273
@OP
You can disable SSID broadcasting as well, it'll help a bit but that too can be sniffed out. I'd flash the router with custom firmware and see if you can't fix the problem, check out http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index and see if your router can be flashed. It's a fairly straightforward process and if you follow the instructions you should be fine.
Anonymous B replied with this 12 years ago, 8 hours later, 10 hours after the original post[^][v]#511,321
@previous (Ks !KansasxqvM)
I don't think you can "fix the problem" on the router side, since it sounds the client software is for some reason refusing to WPA. You're right that disabling SSID broadcasting may help, it will at least dissuade most attackers from even attempting to connect unless they're looking for networks to break into.
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 54 minutes later, 11 hours after the original post[^][v]#511,323
I just hacked into your wifi network.
Ks !KansasxqvM replied with this 12 years ago, 4 hours later, 15 hours after the original post[^][v]#511,358
@511,321 (B)
I read something once about a Mac only connecting when all the settings were just right. I've never messed with Apple products so I don't know. I do know I loathe network troubleshooting. If I were in OP's shoes I'd try everything and if all else fail go buy a router that supports what is needed. You're right though, the router probably doesn't support the channel needed.
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 2 hours later, 18 hours after the original post[^][v]#511,372
Anonymous G joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 16 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#511,525
@511,358 (Ks !KansasxqvM)
He's not talking about apple macs
Ks !KansasxqvM replied with this 12 years ago, 5 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#511,585
@previous (G)
I know what a MAC address is, lol. I have no idea where I got Apple from. Derp. I even went as far as to try and find the apple mac issue I was talking about. My god.