The Energon Pub

Here's the issue:
I was on our network today opening a file in Excell from my wife's computer and I noticed something strange. A new device is showing up on our network labeled "Residental Gateway Device". That's our wireless router for sure but it's never shown up on there before and when I clicked "Properties" and then "Settings" a box comes up that says "Select the services on your network that internet users can access" and then there's a list of programs.

Now, here's where I start getting concerned, the list shows several programs that I don't have on my computer and have never had installed before in my life, AND they're all torrent programs. It shows Azureus, Bitlord, and Bit Torrent. I've only ever used uTorrent in this computer.

Is it possible the neighbors hacked my network and are using our wifi to download torrents? If so, how do I prove it? If not, why the heck are these programs showing up in the list? Seems mighty suspicious to me. Is there any way to view a list of all programs currently running on my network? I am running Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit and have my network protected with WEP key access.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I couldn't figure out how to secure my own so I called my provider they had me hit some do dads, and now alls well.

You gotta watch people screwing with your networks!!!

You have only that one computer in your household? Then yes I'd be suspicious. I couldn't tell you how they can bypass WEP though. Here's a bump, maybe someone else can help out further.

It's funny, I'm going to college to get a degree in computer networking... but I haven't learned enough yet (even on my own) to help you out with this!

I do know that you can limit which computers can use the WiFi. I would shut it off in the meantime. Do you live in an apartment? That's the perfect kind of environment for someone to tap into your internet access without having to pay for it themselves.

I'm wondering, if you can pull up a list of programs accessing the network... can you disable them in that same window? Like right-click each one and select options, or something...

I wouldn't call it hacking. If it's an open router it's as good as an open invitation. Don't forget that it's your responsibility to make sure your network is secure.

There are lots of unsecured networks around here. It makes things convenient if my ISP goes down, but I've never abused it to do mass downloading.

If I'm feeling helpful I will share their printers and send them helpful messages. "Secure your network! Not everyone is as benign as me!"

It's always fun imagining them freaking out when their printer springs randomly into life.

There should be a way to make your network both locked and password protected. My dad's wireless (Which I don't use. I'm wired right into the cable modem, wireless is too much of a hassle for me) only appears on a list of available networks to those who already know about it, and even then, it has a huge, complex password that we had to write down just so we could remember it. And I do mean huge, well over fifteen characters.

Unfortunately, my dad isn't home, so I can't ask him how it's done.

But I suggest looking up how to do it. You don't want to get in trouble for downloading something illegal, and it wasn't even done in your own home.

I don't have the full-on security set up right now (no on my family can ever remember the passwords I set up) but I take a more indirect method. I always monitor my DHCP settings and if I see an unfamiliar computer, I put it on an "always deny" MAC filter. It's not a perfect solution, but it seems to keep most of the troublemakers out.

Did a quick bit of looking around and unless your WEP password is something easy to guess your neighbours shouldn't have been able to get around it.

It is possible the encryption is not set up properly, but I'm sure you have too much experience to make such a mistake.

Every router is different, but I'd suggest going in and taking a look at its logs and looking at the different clients connected.

Turn off all devices in your household that use the router except one, and take a look at the logs and connected clients. If you're finding more than one IP address is connected to the router then you know you've got a problem. I'd first try changing your WEP key and and repeating the same tests over a few days, if all goes well you shouldn't have any foreign clients back on the network.

If the problem persists there's something seriously wrong and I'd think about getting some professional tech support to take a look at your equipment.

From what I understand WEP is pretty easy to hack if you know what your doing. Most dept. stores, businesses, etc don't use it because it's so outdated and easy to by-pass. If you have WPA to use that would be much better.

What type of modem and router do you have? Maybe if some of us have the same kind we can try some stuff out....


-I.P.

>.> I dont think anyone anymore is stupid enough to make a program or a file like that... you'd have to be incredibly dim witted... and Im not trying to offend... and not know a thing about your computer to notice that sort of thing... I am a self taught computer networking expert, for the most part... so... go into MS Prompt and if you see more then the name of your internet service provider, after typing netstat -a -s -n or -v and it comes up with the IP and name of who its from and its not the name of your Internet service provider and your not using any internet devices activated at least... then write down the name and or IP (numbers with say 68.124. ect.) and contact your service provider with the IP and name. They'll see if they can fix it and probably arrest the hacker if it is a hacker.

Iron Prime wrote:From what I understand WEP is pretty easy to hack if you know what your doing.

Aie, I didn't know that. I'm falling behind the times. =x But a quick google search reveals it's quite widespread knowledge. I should come out from my rock once in a while.

WPA has its own share of problems though... Security is a dream it seems these days. =(

I steal internet from next door. It isn't my fault that they choose to go wireless and don't set a password for their network; it's practically inviting me to connect!

Blast Cannon wrote:I steal internet from next door. It isn't my fault that they choose to go wireless and don't set a password for their network; it's practically inviting me to connect!

And yet another random post to prove he's not dead...

Though what's the big deal, anyway?

DesalationReborn wrote:

Blast Cannon wrote:I steal internet from next door. It isn't my fault that they choose to go wireless and don't set a password for their network; it's practically inviting me to connect!

And yet another random post to prove he's not dead...

Though what's the big deal, anyway?

It's pretty much the same as stealing cable.

Also, if his neighbors did something illegal, the blame would be put on Phenotype instead.

EDIT: And even more so, they're sucking up his bandwidth. Routers can only take so much activity before giving up. Torrent programs can cause this unless their upload speeds are set very low.

Shadowman wrote:

DesalationReborn wrote:

Blast Cannon wrote:I steal internet from next door. It isn't my fault that they choose to go wireless and don't set a password for their network; it's practically inviting me to connect!

And yet another random post to prove he's not dead...

Though what's the big deal, anyway?

It's pretty much the same as stealing cable.

Also, if his neighbors did something illegal, the blame would be put on Phenotype instead.

EDIT: And even more so, they're sucking up his bandwidth. Routers can only take so much activity before giving up. Torrent programs can cause this unless their upload speeds are set very low.

Aww crap! Stealing cable is bad!?!

I'd just address them (computers usually have a fairly-obvious ID), and then ask them if they'd like to take a cut of the bill or be fire-walled.

DesalationReborn wrote:Aww crap! Stealing cable is bad!?!

I'd just address them (computers usually have a fairly-obvious ID), and then ask them if they'd like to take a cut of the bill or be fire-walled.

Nah, I think they're definately already onto us. They've named their network "52 insertstreetnamehere ONLY", I don't think you need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that they're not happy about having their bandwidth stolen.

Phenotype, set up WPA and MAC address filtering.
Also, if nobody is using the wireless, you can disconnect the aerial on most routers, or shut it off, to minimise your neighbours' ability to sit around packet sniffing all day and getting your encryption key/spoofing your mac address.