Is the Home Hub secure?

[BazMan]

Hi,

Recently got the BT Home Hub and I am pretty impressed by it's performance. However, I'm a bit worried at the fact that this is a wireless router and is therefore potentially unsecure and open to anyone in the block of flats I live in.

I checked the Network settings on my PC and found another computer connected called "Thompson". Is this someone else's PC?

How do I secure my hub?

[johnelf]

Hi Bazman

When you browse for wireless networks, does your network show as secured or unsecured.

If it is unsecured, then others may well be using your network and getting free broadband care of you !!


John

[BazMan]

Originally Posted by johnelf

Hi Bazman

When you browse for wireless networks, does your network show as secured or unsecured.

If it is unsecured, then others may well be using your network and getting free broadband care of you !!


John

Sorry to sound thick, but how do I browse for wireless networks?


(By the way, I'm not actually using any wireless functions - my PC is connected to the hub via ethernet cable)

[tomonhere]

As default the BT hub is secure but it uses WAP (64bit and quite old). If you change it to WPA-TSK that will make it 1000% more secure but as with all things it can be hacked if someone has enough time.

Type http://192.168.1.254/ into your browser and click on "advanced" settings. then enter your password (default is user:admin password:admin) and look at security.

Hope that helps.

Tom.

[tomonhere]

Ah sorry mate you posted just b4 I did, well then you could turn off the wireless bit doing the same as above but clicking on the "configure" bit and taking the tick out of the box that says "Interface Enabled *" however if you use the handset to make phone calls that will stop working.

[Singh400]

Just enabled the WPA security, you'll be fine then. Well I doubt anyone in your flat knows how to hack a wireless network.

[BazMan]

Thanks guys, done all that and my mind is at rest.

Still doesn't explain what the mysterious "Thompson" PC is though

[tomonhere]

Well it depends on what you mean by "I checked the Network settings on my PC and found another computer connected called "Thompson"". If you mean you did a wireless network search then that's OK as it just means there's a computer/network nearby called that. If you mean you looked at you local network then that means there is a computer on your network called "Thompson" and that might be a problem if it isn't yours! In truth you need to supply a little more info for us to be able to help mate

[BazMan]

Originally Posted by tomonhere

Well it depends on what you mean by "I checked the Network settings on my PC and found another computer connected called "Thompson"". If you mean you did a wireless network search then that's OK as it just means there's a computer/network nearby called that. If you mean you looked at you local network then that means there is a computer on your network called "Thompson" and that might be a problem if it isn't yours! In truth you need to supply a little more info for us to be able to help mate

Right. I clicked on the "Network" bit of Vista and it comes up with 5 icons: 2 of which are my PC and 2 of which are the Hub. The other one, a PC icon, is labelled "Thompson". When I double-click on "Thompson", I get another icon labelled "Printers". Double-clicking on that gives nothing - an empty window.

[tomonhere]

Er ok I have Vista but I'm still working out what everything means. It could be that "Thompson" is your cable or ADSL modem as I noticed mine showed up in the networking area under Vista (it didn't under XP). So look and see what make your modem or router is.

[BazMan]

Originally Posted by tomonhere

Er ok I have Vista but I'm still working out what everything means. It could be that "Thompson" is your cable or ADSL modem as I noticed mine showed up in the networking area under Vista (it didn't under XP). So look and see what make your modem or router is.

My modem/router is the BT Hub (as mentioned )

[DaveG]

I am also running vista and op 3, and I also show Thomson in my Network, I notice though that its user group is BT, so it must be something to do with the Hub, But as tomonhere says if you look at the hubs settings it shows who is connected to your network.

[BazMan]

Originally Posted by DaveG

I am also running vista and op 3, and I also show Thomson in my Network, I notice though that its user group is BT, so it must be something to do with the Hub, But as tomonhere says if you look at the hubs settings it shows who is connected to your network.

Thanks Dave, that's put my mind at rest - we're a bit far apart to have the same person hacking into our wireless!

Thompson is an electronics firm, isn't it? Perhaps they make the Hub?

[tomonhere]

Yes mate, part of Philips I think who are a very large company.

[BazMan]

At the very bottom of the sticker on the back of the Hub it says "Thompson Telecom".

Mystery solved