Migration complete!

[Simon]

Does your version of F-secure have the blacklight rootkit scanner? also is your superantispyware the free version or the paid for which has active protection?

Yes, FSIS has the blacklight rootkit scanner, and SAS is the free version (not active protection).

[Rik]

I have a complex network name use wpa2 with a complex password hide my network name and use mac filtering, some of these can be over come but it makes it a lot harder to use your wifi.

I don't bother with MAC filtering (we re-use too many acronyms in this game as it's so easy to bypass. I do change the network name, use WPA with a complex key and always, but always, change the router login password.

[Gary]

I don't bother with MAC filtering (we re-use too many acronyms in this game as it's so easy to bypass. I do change the network name, use WPA with a complex key and always, but always, change the router login password.

I agree first thing to change, when I'm out and about (rarely) if I do a wifi search from my phone the number of networks called netgear which are not secure is scary, and you just know the password is unchanged as well

[Simon]

But not the message from IDNet. Have you had a look at your accounts page > BB usage there?

Yes it says the same, and I think it's probably correct, because, as I said, the BT Speedtester seems to cause a massive activity surge, which I have to close my browser to stop.  If I hadn't noticed this yesterday, it would explain the high bandwidth usage, especially as I used the tester about 10 times!

Is there anything eating processor cycles or do you see network activity when the machine is just idling?

No, nothing.

That would also worry me a little my usage varies but I migrated 21 days ago and have not receaved a message like that from IDNet, if someone were to be piggy backing your wifi also that would explain that message and throughput maybe, what do you think Rik? I have a complex network name use wpa2 with a complex password hide my network name and use mac filtering, some of these can be over come but it makes it a lot harder to use your wifi.

I'll have another look at the router settings.  I now have a 63 character WPA key, so that should help, if there is anything going on.  How do you hide your computer name?




Edit: Markup sorted

[Rik]

the number of networks called netgear which are not secure is scary, and you just know the password unchanged as well

I can pick up two here, and just walk into the router... Crazy. 

[Simon]

My router password is not the default one, and I can see at least three other networks on my laptop.  Does that mean they can see me?

[Gary]

Yes, FSIS has the blacklight rootkit scanner, and SAS is the free version (not active protection).

When did you last do a scan Simon? with F-secure, I have never used it but do you have to enable rootkit scanning as well? If you have not done one in the last few days it would be worth it, sorry if you have its just this thread is getting very long to scan now

[Rik]

Yes it says the same, and I think it's probably correct, because, as I said, the BT Speedtester seems to cause a massive activity surge, which I have to close my browser to stop.  If I hadn't noticed this yesterday, it would explain the high bandwidth usage, especially as I used the tester about 10 times!

Odd, I've never seen the BT test do that.

I'll have another look at the router settings.  I now have a 63 character WPA key, so that should help, if there is anything going on.  How do you hide your computer name?

You don't need to. Just change the SSID in the router to something which you recognise but won't make a lot of sense to others. It's about hiding the make of the router as much as anything.

[Rik]

My router password is not the default one, and I can see at least three other networks on my laptop.  Does that mean they can see me?

If you can see them, the chances are they can see you. It doesn't matter providing (a) you're not suffering from interference and (b) you're well secured.

[Gary]

You don't need to. Just change the SSID in the router to something which you recognise but won't make a lot of sense to others. It's about hiding the make of the router as much as anything.


That is true if they can see the make that gives them more information than you want them to have.

[Simon]

Odd, I've never seen the BT test do that.

Well, it obviously doesn't like me then! 

You don't need to. Just change the SSID in the router to something which you recognise but won't make a lot of sense to others. It's about hiding the make of the router as much as anything.

Yes, the SSID is changed form the default, but what about the option to broadcast it?  Should that be allowed or disallowed?

Guys, I have to pop out for a bit now, but will be back an half an hour or so.

Thanks for all the help!

[Gary]

I don't broadcast my network, if someone wants to do a quick sweep at least they wont see me, or course if they are determined all things can be got around.

[Rik]

I do broadcast SSID, Simon. If people want to sniff me out, they will anyway. By broadcasting, it makes it easier for others to avoid interference. You'll find opinion is pretty much split on this topic though.

What everyone will agree on is:

1)  Change the SSID so as not to identify the make of router (anyone else find they now type idnetify? )

2)  Change the default password to log in to the router

3)  Use WPA or WPA2 and use a strong key of 63+ characters.

[Gary]

I agree with Rik entirely on his comments above, I hide mine because there are no other networks around within reach (small village in the sticks) so I'm happy not broadcasting.
What I would like Simon is for you to connect your laptop to your router via Ethernet please, and do your your BT Speedtest again so we can remove wifi problems from the equation with your throughput 

[Simon]

What I would like Simon is for you to connect your laptop to your router via Ethernet please, and do your your BT Speedtest again so we can remove wifi problems from the equation with your throughput 

OK, I can do that this evening, Gary, but perhaps I should point out that I haven't been using wifi throughout this whole testing period, and that I have been using my main PC, which is connected by Ethernet anyway.  Therefore, would connecting the laptop via Ethernet make any difference?

As far as wifi security goes, I can see three other networks, when I connect via wifi with my laptop, but presumably these would all be in close proximity, i.e. fairly close neighbours?  Without wishing to appear snobbish, the area I live in is not the type of area where I would expect a neighbour to try to 'steal' my connection, so I really think, after finding reasonably plausible (if rather strange in the BT Speedtester case) explanations for the bandwith usage, we can eliminate piggy backing from the situation.  I have all the security criteria Rik listed above in place, so I'm not too worried about that side of things now.

[Gary]

Ok I just wanted to see what a different machine would show as throughput Simon, and was not sure if you were using wifi on your laptop for tests, if your throughput is the same on both machines we can say leave your line till Monday and see what IDNet say, also the ringwire does make quite a difference, I did mine and it took two minutes, undo the two screws from your faceplate lift it forward and remove the wire orange and white from terminal three and thats it, and it does help. Sorry you having such a bad time, but if we eliminate machine issues we know where we stand 

[Simon]

Well, it's not that I'm having a bad time, Gary.  If I hadn't seen the figures, before and after altering the TCP settings, I would have been none the wiser, and would have thought I had a good connection.  I'm also not sure how much to believe the test results, seeing as they seem to vary so vastly from one to the other.

If I remove the ring wire, how easy is it to replace again?  I thought you needed a special tool for connecting phone wires, which I don't have.  Also, this might seem a stupid question, but won't it stop my phones ringing?

I'm not going to fiddle about any more tonight, and I am out for most of the day tomorrow, so any further investigations will have to wait until Monday now.  I'm not even sure I have a case for IDNet to answer, as the readings vary so much from tester to tester.

[Simon]

Oh, and another stupid thing now (you can tell I'm losing patience with this!), the 63 character key I put into the router keeps being shortened for some reason, and then the laptop won't connect because the key is wrong!  Bloody computers!! 

[Rik]

Well, it's not that I'm having a bad time, Gary.  If I hadn't seen the figures, before and after altering the TCP settings, I would have been none the wiser, and would have thought I had a good connection.  I'm also not sure how much to believe the test results, seeing as they seem to vary so vastly from one to the other.

Tests all use some method if simulation to determine speed. The best test is a large file and a stop watch, see my earlier suggestions.

If I remove the ring wire, how easy is it to replace again?  I thought you needed a special tool for connecting phone wires, which I don't have.  Also, this might seem a stupid question, but won't it stop my phones ringing?

You would need an IDC tool, a disposable one will cost you about 99p, but there is no reason to ever put the wire back - modern phones don't need it and the microfilter generates the ring current anyway. Just remember to remove the wire on terminal three, don't rely on the colour scheme.

I'm not even sure I have a case for IDNet to answer, as the readings vary so much from tester to tester.

I think your line will settle over the next few days, providing you maintain sync. There's often some loss during migration because of the disconnections which can occur at the exchange.

[Rik]

Oh, and another stupid thing now (you can tell I'm losing patience with this!), the 63 character key I put into the router keeps being shortened for some reason, and then the laptop won't connect because the key is wrong!  Bloody computers!! 

What router? The display is usually truncated, but it should accept the key OK. You do need to make the setting from a wired connection, not from the wireless one, but I'm guessing you've been doing that. What I recommend is that you create a Notepad file with the key, and cut'n'paste it from there to the router and lappy.

[Gary]

Well, it's not that I'm having a bad time, Gary.  If I hadn't seen the figures, before and after altering the TCP settings, I would have been none the wiser, and would have thought I had a good connection.  I'm also not sure how much to believe the test results, seeing as they seem to vary so vastly from one to the other.

If I remove the ring wire, how easy is it to replace again?  I thought you needed a special tool for connecting phone wires, which I don't have.  Also, this might seem a stupid question, but won't it stop my phones ringing?

I'm not going to fiddle about any more tonight, and I am out for most of the day tomorrow, so any further investigations will have to wait until Monday now.  I'm not even sure I have a case for IDNet to answer, as the readings vary so much from tester to tester.

No it wont stop your phone ringing SI and you dont need to put it back either see here http://yarwell.blogspot.com/2005/08/adsl-tweaking.html and this will,explain it, its a very simple issue honestly, I think maybe stepping away for now would be a good idea as it can get a bit frustrating going in circles, I'm sure Rik will talk about this issue to IDNet on monday, anyway since you have had such issues, look at the link in this post and you will get the idea of the ring wire trick Simon, have a good weekend leaving your line to stabilise will help now as well and it should eventually start to pick up from all the sync events just a question what router are you using? as i said this post is so big now its hard to scan over. Hope all goes well and yes computers sometimes do make you want to scream 

[Simon]

What router? The display is usually truncated, but it should accept the key OK. You do need to make the setting from a wired connection, not from the wireless one, but I'm guessing you've been doing that. What I recommend is that you create a Notepad file with the key, and cut'n'paste it from there to the router and lappy.

Netgear DG834G, Rik.  I have been doing exactly as you suggested, copying and pasting the 63 character key, with WPA-PSK selected, and a box stating that an 8-63 character key can be used.  I paste in the 63 character key, click Apply, then when I log into the router again, it's changed to a 27 character key, so I guess that's what it will have to be.

As I said, this is doing my head in now, so as Gary sensibly suggested, I'm not messing about any more till Monday.

The reason I don't think this is an issue with IDNet is that the speed and throughput was much the same on Pipex, as I have posted somewhere on the forums, but can't remember where now.  Obviously though, if they can do anything to help, it would be appreciated.

[Simon]

OK, the password issue now seems to be resolved, by changing some of the characters. 

[Gary]

Glad that's working Simon, have a good weekend and lets see how your line is on Monday, 

[Simon]

Indeed!  Thanks for all your help and patience, guys!