Wireless Network Security
 

On my wireless network I have to broadcast my SSID because for some strange reason my dads vista laptop will not find the router when SSID broadcast is disabled.

So what I have done is set up the Wireless Card Access List. I have added all our 9 wireless devices, and turned on the Access Control.

How much safer is the system with the Access List & WPA-PSK [TKIP]?

Re: Wireless Network Security
 

I believe MAC addresses can be spoofed, but unless someone knew any of yours I think you'd be pretty safe.

Make sure your WPA password is greater than 13 characters plus mixed symbols, numbers, upper & lower case.

Change your SSID from the default for the router to something random...

Re: Wireless Network Security
 

SSID hiding really doesn't help too much. If available use WPA2/AES for encryption.

Re: Wireless Network Security
 

Hiding the SSID doesn't help, and adding wireless card control lists just makes life unnecessarily complicated for you.

Just turn on WPA and go for the longest passphrase you can remember - do something like choose the first line of a song to make life easier for yourself:

"When you're alone & your heart is an open book" for example.

Beyond that just changed the SSID to something that isn't default and doesn't represent anything linked to you, change the default admin username and password, and you should be fine.