Mac Filtering

fattyman SG

Hi there,

Recently I bought a Linksys ADSL Wireless Router & during the set-up process, i was told by the tech officer that I can Disable the Wireless Security Feature because i m using Mac Filtering Feature thus no hackers or intruders can tap on my network without first key in the device number in the Mac Filtering page.

My understanding on this Mac Filtering Feature is to allow the host to detect the device, if without the correct device number, nobody can tap on my network, is this true or false, sounds risky right ?

Which device are they talking about, are they referring to my Belkin N1 Wireless Adapter or the desktop or my notebook computer number, i m at a loss here ?

Also at times when i try to ask the tech officer some questions, it seems that they are kind of reluctant to explain to layman like us, eg. what is LLV or UC or chanel 11 2.4 GHz something like that.

Can someone tell me where can i read more on all this wireless thingy like the LLV or UC chanel 11 etc.........

I m keen to learn, pls advise, pls explain to me the device thingy first.

I get the device number by going to : run : cmd : ipconfig/all

Thanks a million.

BTW i've some wireless connectivity problem but would like to try out myself again before I post it here to seek for advice.

Confused

manyu882 SG

Your tech officer may be wrong.

here's a brief background about wireless mac filtering:
when a router is set to mac filtered, only devices which mac address listed in in the router is allowd to recieve packets. However, if a hacker is smart enough, by using 2 computers( 1 computer is possible but then not enough), he can sniff out the mac address(es) allowed by the router. when he got the mac address allowed list, he can use mac spoofer to spoof his wireless mac deivce and connect to your router... your router will recognise it as a device in the allow list and then will start sending and reciving packet.. then the hacker will be able to use your internet.

nothing is safe 100% in this world.

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The 11 2.4ghz thingy is a radio frequency channel used for communicating device for WLAN

more in wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

MyPillowTalks SG

mac addresses can be faked

WEP password can be cracked

ndmmxiaomayi SG

He is right to a certain extent - it only deters users who want to tap your network.

It doesn't deter malicious users - from script kiddie onwards. There are a thousand and one tools out there to bypass MAC filtering and spoof the MAC address.

You should still turn on wireless security feature of Linksys.

fattyman SG

Then what is this device they are talking about, my wireless adapter or my computer ?

Thanks.

fattyman SG

Hi mayi,

If i enable the wireless security feature as well as the mac filtering, does it affect my surfing speed, the througput speed ?

I was told by Starhub tech officer that it does affect, pls advise.

Thanks.

kenn3th SG

It does not affect the speed.
the purpose for mac filtering is just to "deter" people from hacking into your wireless network. Mac filtering only allows registered physical addresses to access the wireless network

This method only deters those "stupid" peopole who know nuts about how to bypass it. It's very easy to bypass it.

Steps to enable mac blocking is here.

http://sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=289641

ndmmxiaomayi SG

MAC filtering doesn't affect the speed. It's the wireless security (aka encryption) that does that.

manyu882 SG

wireless adapter.

every device(Mobile, printer, wireless ethernet, internet modem...ectect) which are able to establish connection to the router must have Mac address

fattyman SG

Thanks Kenn3th, thanks for the advice as well as the link. Wink

fattyman SG

Hi mayi, once again thanks for the reply, appreciate that. Wink

fattyman SG

tks tks tks Wink