[skrivis]

Otherwise, others will be able to use your network easily, and after enough freeloaders are on, it'll just slow down your connection.

 That's right but also the reason we can use our laptops anywhere we go. Let's not tell everyone this

 There are also a lot of public places that have wireless networks available. Most public libraries make it available.

 I have no doubt that someday there will be satelites making this available to everyone on the planet. Or at least towers covering certain geographical regions.

I bet there are also people who setup hotspots with the idea of monitoring the traffic gets generated by the unsuspecting.

I am very careful what I do when using a public hotspot. (I tend not to use them actually.) At home, I enable WPA and don't broadcast my SSID. I normally disable wireless completely unless I'm actually using it.

There's some good info directed at Apple users here:

http://www.std.com/~reinhold/airport.html

[tomsum20]

Yes, you are very correct. By letting people into your home network, you are allowing them to see all your data. If multiple machines are sharing the connection, they are all peers on the network and outsiders can see them, depending on how their individual security is set up. That means that your neighbor can browse your machine for your financial records or anything else.

I cannot agree that stealing network access is a good thing. Hotspots are set up all over the place, many of them free, so that's fine. Starbucks wanted to make it easy for people to spend more time sitting in there and drinking coffee. But logging into your neighbor's network is illegal because of the terms of the cable or phone companies' agreements.

Encrypting your router is easy and will prevent access.

[avahifi]

Larry's main job is as a computer troubleshooter for a big company and his main problem is that they don't appreciate him enough because he is so on top of things they have few computer problems.

Of course he has me set up with a wireless router already to allow my Mac stuff to talk to a forlorn and unloved PC in a forlorn distant office.  It will be a snap to add the wireless iBook to the network.  Of course too the setup has hardware and software firewalls built in.  No unintended data getting out of here easily.

Thanks for the advice.  I think I will be on top of it.  I just hope I can home in on the hospital's wireless network and use that while I am there.

Frank

[Rocket]

Hi Frank,

Thought i'd wish you good luck with your hip operation.  Although i haven't had this type operation i have had major knee surgery and shoulder surgery in the last few months and have had my 'ups and downs' along the way.

Just remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Regards

Rod

[guest1632]

Slowing your connection down is a minor problem compared to the huge security hole that is unsecured wireless. Even so-called secured wireless isn't very secure, unless you're doing IPsec or VPN over wireless. (It's better than nothing though, and will keep out your nosy neighbor and his pimply-faced 13 year old.) :)

That's so true. I opted for a wired router because I don't feel that wireless is secure enough. So definitely, Frank, seek out a consultant, or maybe someone here on the circle can work with you.

Bill, that's scarry about being able to go almost anywhere and be on the net. I hope you have some good antivirus and firewall and spyware protection.

Frank, I'd see what firewall stuff is available for your computer. Nope on zonealarm. I won't use it on my PC and don't know if they make it available for the mac. On the PC side, if ZoneAlarm gets stuck during an uninstall, It's a real pain to remove. Had to do so for many a customer when supporting Windows. Anyhow, the best for you Frank. Thanks Skribis for the use of your space.

Ray

[guest1632]

Larry's main job is as a computer troubleshooter for a big company and his main problem is that they don't appreciate him enough because he is so on top of things they have few computer problems.

Of course he has me set up with a wireless router already to allow my Mac stuff to talk to a forlorn and unloved PC in a forlorn distant office.  It will be a snap to add the wireless iBook to the network.  Of course too the setup has hardware and software firewalls built in.  No unintended data getting out of here.

Hi Frank, Well, you might check in and see how much will the hospital charge you for the use of their network. How long do they figure you'll be in the hospital? Have they told you how much rehab time have?

Ray

[avahifi]

They say hospital stay will be only 3 -5 days so computer access there will be no big deal.

Hey guys, Larry is a computer expert first class.  That is his full time job.  He will have my network set up as secure as it can be with hardware and software that works.

Thanks all for the good wishes.

Frank

[skrivis]

Larry's main job is as a computer troubleshooter for a big company and his main problem is that they don't appreciate him enough because he is so on top of things they have few computer problems.

He needs to implement a policy of "scheduled breakage." You have to remind them why you're there.  

Just kidding. hehe

[Al Garay]

What type of car do you drive?

After my mother-in law had her hip surgery, she sold the Honda Civic (too low) and bought a Honda CRV (just the right height).

On the positive, during your recovery, you will have more time to listen to music.

Best wishes on a speedie recovery.

[bubba966]

What type of car do you drive?

After my mother-in law had her hip surgery, she sold the Honda Civic (too low) and bought a Honda CRV (just the right height).

If I'm remembering right Frank drives an Audi A6. And I'd bet good $ that he wouldn't give that up for something that Honda makes.

Though if the A6 is too low after the surgery, the Allroad might be the right height...

[avahifi]

So I am trying to use this little iBook for the first time and the initial setup instructions assumed the user would be familiar with a touchpad mouseless cursor moving system and I had never seen one before.  No user instructions for the touchpad at all until you get way past initial setup and just how are you supposed to do that when you have no idea how the touchpad works.

It will take some getting used to the tiny keyboard, but at least the little thing   seems to work out of the box.  Larry will be over one of these days soon to get the wireless "connections" working so I can use it upstairs.

Right now I am simply hardwired into my main router via ethernet cable.

More later.

Frankless

[skrivis]

So I am trying to use this little iBook for the first time and the initial setup instructions assumed the user would be familiar with a touchpad mouseless cursor moving system and I had never seen one before.  No user instructions for the touchpad at all until you get way past initial setup and just how are you supposed to do that when you have no idea how the touchpad works.

It will take some getting used to the tiny keyboard, but at least the little thing   seems to work out of the box.  Larry will be  ...

The lack of a mouse is actually one of the things I don't like about laptops. I always carry a USB mouse with me when I travel. (An inexpensive Logitech USB optical mouse will work fine with the iBook too, and you'll have multiple mouse buttons.)

I first tried a touchpad somewhere in the mid '90s when Alps first came out with the Glidepoint. They never did much for me.

Maybe Apple just figured that everyone has seen a touchpad at this point? It's probably worth sending them an e-mail and pointing this out.

[elcaptain88]

Your iBook, which should have an airport card already installed in it I would think,  should be able to find the wireless router (if its connected) on its own. I would click on system preferences or the "signal" graphic contained up by the clock in the upper right hand corner. Otherwise I've always found the support section on Apple's website very helpful.

When I first powered up my iMac it found our Linksys router downstairs and set-up automatically. Its by far the easiest & most trouble free computer I've owned - unlike my previous crash-prone Dells.

[skrivis]

Your iBook, which should have an airport card already installed in it I would think,  should be able to find the wireless router (if its connected) on its own. I would click on system preferences or the "signal" graphic contained up by the clock in the upper right hand corner. Otherwise I've always found the support section on Apple's website very helpful.

When I first powered up my iMac it found our Linksys router downstairs and set-up automatically. Its by far the easiest & most trouble free computer I've owned - unlike my previous crash-prone Dells.

Except that Larry actually setup security on Frank's AP, so auto-magic setup isn't possible.

If you can just turn the computer on and wireless is configured automatically the first time - you've got a big security hole. The rest of your neighborhood is getting free Internet access from you, and the snot-nosed kid next door could be reading your e-mail and scarfing all your passwords. Hey, if you're in the city, you might want to look and see if there are any strange marks or symbols on the building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warchalking

[Nick B]

I always found the touchpad annoying to use on any laptop. As     I recall, one of the folks at my wife's office has a wireless mouse that uses a USB stick. Works great.

[avahifi]

Ah the wonders of modern communications.  Here I am sitting at the dining room table of a friend's lake home up in then north woods of Wisconsin.  I have managed to connect my iBook to his 56K dial up system after loading his telephone company software and using his account.

All working well, except in trying to get to my Comcast e-mail account, then I get a big "tilt" - - -  can't get into it with the incripted password without accessing it from a high speed line.  Oh well.

I wonder if there is a workaround for that.  I will have to go to the same Comcast customer service reps that can't figure out how to tell me how to make a "series" recording with their cable box DVR machine.

Anyway, taking a day off to depressurize before a last couple of days before getting leg hacked on.  Shipped 10 pieces Friday, anothern 6 or so to get out on Monday, then order lots of parts, load the iBook with some documentation files that are badly out of date that I hope to work on in the hospital instead of thumb twiddling as in the past.  Then let go of stuff for a few days and hope new hip joint is useful improvement to my lifestyle.

Note that it (titanium hip joint) comes with a special "Of course you idiots I can't pass the metal detector" card for the airport insecurity guards. We shall see how well that card goes over in the future.  Hopefully not missed flight city and strip searches.

Off for now to do some more audio system setup work here to pay my room and board.

Frank

[EMM801]

When I was getting my Mac on Comcast, I had a tech support guy reading from a cheat sheet who spent 45 minutes on the phone with me because he didn't know all that needed to be done was to click the check box turning the Ethernet port on. He kept telling me that that wasn't the problem. It was.

[yeldarb]

Best wishes to you, Frank.  All I can say about hip replacement  is that I have known two people whose personality totally changed after surgery.  They were grouchy old farts prior.  Must have been the pain, as they became quite pleasant with new hip joints.

[slc247]

Best wishes to you, Frank.  All I can say about hip replacement  is that I have known two people whose personality totally changed after surgery.  They were grouchy old farts prior.  Must have been the pain, as they became quite pleasant with new hip joints.

Are you saying Frank should have them BOTH done???

[orthobiz]

Good luck, Frank. I coulda bartered for the hip replacement if I had been paying attention to this thread!

biz