I have cable with a router and firewall. My neighbors all have wireless...

[The Backlash Cometh]

Generally there is no issue here because my wireless switch is turned off, but, sometimes when we travel and the hotel has wireless connection, I flip the switch on. Unfortunately, more than once I've forgotten to switch it off again. So the question is, if I come home and connect to my cables, leaving my wireless switch open, can my neighbors "see" my computer and get access to my system if they have moderate computer skills?

[JeffR]

1. Depends on your network security.

Have you password-protected it? WPA-PSK protection is your best bet.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. WPA-PSK is protection that is put on the laptop?

Sounds like a good idea for when we travel.

[JeffR]

5. It's protection on your router

Here's a good basic overview:

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3552826

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Thank you so much.

I appreciate the info. Someday in the future we may be going wireless and it's good to know that this product is getting better.

[lazarus]

2. Your neighbours could only see your computer

if you were logged into their network. If they have moderate computer skills, they'll have their network encrypted so you won't be able to log in.

On my laptop, if I'm hardwired into the router, it automatically logs on using that instead of wireless.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. That's a relief that they can't see me.

I have VISTA and a Dell Inspiron. I hope it does it automatically go through cable. I also unplug the cable when I'm not using the internet, but in the last few days, the laptop tried to get back on the net, using dialup. The dial-up pop-up window kept coming up when I was offline. This concerned me because I had allowed a computer support person to get into my computer through the remote feature a few days. Though C. John from this newsgroup showed me how to disable the remote function, and advised me to run superantispyware, or something like that. I went into the dial-up section of the computer and removed the phone number which was just the generic 555-555-5555.