A Network Vista-ism perhaps?

[stevenrw]

Here's a little poser for you techies to ponder.
My domestic wireless network name is Netgear (Yeah original, I know, I know)
Its obviously a security enabled network.
Occasionally on wifeys Vista lappy when I look at the connect/disconnect icon in the taskbar there is another Netgear network listed, and this one is not security enabled. This network does not pop up on any other machine in the house, (all of which are XP) and right clicking on it does not give a "properties" option.
Q1. How can I establish if it's my network or not
Q2. Is it actuallly possible to have two networks emanating from the same router called the same, one secure the other open.
Q3. In case it is my own network declaring itself open to the whole street, without the "properties" option, how can I disable it? It does not appear in the Network & Sharing centre under "manage wireless networks"

[Rik]

As Netgear is the default SSID, it's probably another user and your wife's lappy is seeing it because it's more sensitive or positioned better for its signal. The quick way to check is to change your SSID. I don't think there's any way you can have an insecure and secure network emanating from a single router.

[Baz]

sorry to hijack but on the same subject if you have the SSID broadcasting can other people nearby see your network, do they see the name, if so can they only connect if its unsecure.

[Rik]

If you broadcast SSID, Baz, others will see it - I can usually see about five here. If security is on, though, they can't connect. Not broadcasting SSID does not improve security, it's broadcast in other ways and a hacker will get past the lack of SSID easily.

[Sebby]

Indeed. The network is still visible, just not the same, so it's pointless. Good secure and MAC filtering if you're really paranoid (although some say this is pointless too) is the way to go.

[Gary]

As Sebby and Rik say Broadcasting your SSID is not unsafe but changing it to something other than netgear may stp people wardriving your router maybe, in many cases broadcasting it helps connection for many devices, good security like WPA2 AES, mac filtering and a decent password are all the key, go to https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm and generate a 63 random printable ASCII character one and you should be pretty safe  Vista prefers you have your SSID enabled really so with it hidden you could end up with that issues, try using this inSSIDer its better than netstumbler in that its still being developed and works on vista http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider it wil show you the networks around you and also the frequenct thy are on, so that helps you select your own channel for less interference, also its open source which is good to see

[Baz]

just tried that program Gary and get an error message

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Gary]

Thats odd were you you using it with a ethernet port working at the time Baz? Rather than just wifi? Have a look on the forums, it works ok with my wifi card.  there are other programs out here that work in the same way, google and see what comes up, but try and find out why you get that error, if you are using XP on any machine use Netstumbler, its not developed anymore but works well.

[Baz]

Ah right, my fault totally Gary sorry.Yes just installed it on my main system which is cabled to the router.running XP. 

[Gary]

Ah right, my fault totally Gary sorry.Yes just installed it on my main system which is cabled to the router.running XP. 

Believe me Baz, I have done worse 

[Baz]

me too. forget to put my brain into gear  sometimes 

[Rik]

Forgot where I left my brain sometimes.

[Baz]

 

[Gary]

me too. forget to put my brain into gear  sometimes 

I know, I think we just get pc blind, like snow blind but based on to much time in front of the pc, hence the addition of a plugin called "Wife" helps with this issue no end

[Baz]

  I know what you mean Gary 

[Rik]

I know, I think we just get pc blind, like snow blind but based on to much time in front of the pc, hence the addition of a plugin called "Wife" helps with this issue no end

I thought that was a plug out?

[Gary]

I thought that was a plug out?

More of a black out

[Rik]

 

[Simon]

All dead, you're all dead...   

[Rik]

I knew something was different this morning.

[Gary]

you mean those pitchforks and fires everywhere, Rik? 

[Gary]

All dead, you're all dead...  

Justina really agrees with you Simon