Just got an iTouch. Cool machine, but something about the wi-fi is freaking me out. Can you help?

[LittleClarkie]

When I checked the wi-fi settings to see if I could log into the internet on this thing from my house, I found two networks. One was locked, and called Moody, so that one needed a password. The other one was called Hacker_virus and was unlocked so that it is accessible on the iTouch.

But there's just something about a wi-fi network without a password that has been named "hacker virus" that gives me the creeps. I feel like I should delete that network before I sync again.

Am I being stupid, and the name is someone's idea of a joke, and the network's fine? Or am I right to be cautious? I don't think you can get a virus off of wi-fi, but someone could sure hack into your device.

What do you guys think?

[Nickster]

1. I think you're right to be cautious. There's a lot of possibilities and it's not worth

exposing your personal information to a network that might be dangerous. The person running that network must know a little something about networking because he was able to change his ID to hacker_virus which the average person doesn't know how to do or doesn't bother to change. Just because you don't see it as locked doesn't mean it isn't secure, they could be filtering by MAC address which only lets in specific machines.

[LittleClarkie]

2. Thanks. Just to be safe, I had the itouch ignore that network so it wouldn't log in automatically

before I synced it, even before I got an answer on this thread.

My first time having a wi-fi capable machine, can you tell?

I did play on that network for a little while last night though. Temptation got the better of me. So I know the network isn't filtering. Maybe the name alone is meant to keep most people off. But I think you're right. This person knows more about this stuff than I do, so I don't think I'll mess with it.

Anyway, I don't know why I think I need to log onto the internet at home using the itouch when my freakin' computer is right there.

Thanks again!

[City of Mills]

3. I'm not sure

But that's a great name for a home network :) I think I'm going to change my wireless SID to "hacker_virus" :)

[LittleClarkie]

4. Would tend to cut down on traffic, I reckon.

I'm kind of thinking that's the reason it's named like that. Someone just thought it was cool. Even so, I'm being cautious, because this person knows more than I do.

[tigereye]

5. I'd avoid it... even if the person was just being a wise-guy or trying to warn

people off...


I've seen some strange network names when using my laptop around town - but don't you have your own wireless network to use?

[LittleClarkie]

8. I have an older computer that doesn't have wireless capability

The iTouch is my first experience with wi-fi ever, hence the confusion.

I can only get on the internet when I'm at a wi-fi hotspot. My local pub has wi-fi. I assume when I go to Starbucks that I will be able to log in there. But I have no home capabilities unless I'm bogarting off of someone else's network.

It was weird, but over at my friend's house I was able to get on wi-fi there too. I wondered where the signal came from (I'm that clueless). I thought maybe there was a business close by. It never occurred to me that I might be leeching off of someone else's wi-fi close by. I'm really not that sure how it all works.

[tigereye]

9. my husband is the computer expert at my house, and he has set up various

wireless networks here and in my office. I think that as long as you have internet capability in the first place through one of the companies like Verizon, Comcast, etc, you should be able to get a wireless router like Linksys (a pretty common brand of router, I think) and have someone put it in for you - it's a bit of a pain, but not too bad if you know someone who had done it before. You could also have your internet provider put a router in, but I think that would be rather more expensive...




I'm sure some of the geeks here could tell you more.


on edit, you will probably get a few jokes about "war-driving" (worse than piggy-backing) I think a lot of folks (non-geeks) who didn't really understand the whole router/ protected bandwidth thing, have.

[ghostsofgiants]

10. That about sums it up.

Just put in a wireless router (Linksys and D-Link come highly recommended) and you're good to go.

[tigereye]

12. hey, I have absorbed some geek-dom!

:woohoo:


I spent 2 hours doing it in my office, what a PITA. :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

13. Yeah, the first time you do it it's pretty rough.

When you've done it the number of times I have, it's second nature, haha.

[DS1]

6. Get off my net!

:D


series, stop leeching

[LittleClarkie]

7. Shouldn't you have that locked, bub.

Moody was locked. Hacker doesn't seem to care.

[ghostsofgiants]

11. My guess is it's just a joke, but if you wanna use the Touch at your home...

You should invest in a wireless router. Leeching off of a neighbour's wireless is just going to give you trouble.

[hunter]

14. If you play with lots of machines encryption is a nuisance.

Calling a wireless network Hacker_virus is an interesting approach.

Look around your neighborhood for a kid with a Nintendo DS or iPod who may have set up the family wireless to share with friends -- with or without parent approval.

If we really lived in a democratic republic and not a grim corporate oligarchy, I think most cities and towns would already have "free" public wireless internet access, the same way city streets and sidewalks are "free."