CyprusLiving

Ive been doing a lot of network set up/optimisation and pc repair work recently and at least 3 of the visits I've made have revealed the following -

Most people on the white cyta box are still using WEP security ....... This is easily hacked and I have had at 3 call outs in the last 7 days for " slow internet performance" which was actually sneaky neighbours stealing Internet.

In each case they were on the std cyta router with WEP encryption ...... Before the uninitiated get too worried .....It is highly unlikely that anyone will gain access to your PC .... BUT they will get a free ride off your connection.

I believe cyta may offer help in upgrading to WPA2 which is secure ...... I'd suggest you get in touch with them.

Alternatively ......... Spend a little extra on a better router with improved security and VASTLY better performance.

The linksys/Cisco E2500 is particularly easy to set (up for novices)and as standard offers significant security improvements.

Once you have installed your new router ..... Make sure you switch off the wireless function of the cyta router.

Please don't panic when reading this as its very unlikely that you will have any important data compromised , however , if your Internet is not performing .......... This may be the reason why.

How do you switch off the wireless function of the cyta router ?

Excellent advice, if you have a cyta router visit http://www.cytanet-dslaccess.com.cy/dsl ... 7&langID=0

It is so easy to hack a cyta router it takes about 30 secs!, I tried the free software on one of my own routers and it was so simple and found the key first time.

I would advise all cyta users to change the key to WPA2 as per their instructions (plus choose a complicated key using both letters and numbers), and WRITE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE SAFE!

Molly, I think that most CYTA modems the wireless can be turned off by pressing and holding the button until the light goes off.


Regards,

Digby

Thanks Digby.....

Digby:
My CYTA White Thomson router setup at http://192.168.10.254/ (as per above) I can switch of the Wireless Home Network (WiFi) there (I find pushing the button doesn't work). I can also change the encryption from WEP to WPA-PSK WPA TKIP (not WPA2). Is this more secure than WEP?

Yes, WPA-PSK/TKIP is more secure, but even changing the default WEP key will deter the "borrowers". The problem is that the default key can be calculated easily from the network name (speedtouchXXXXXX, or CYTAXXXXXX), so even changing the WEP key will make the router more secure.

The problem is more common than you would think, and most CYTA modems that I have been to in the Paphos area are being shared without the owners permission - Internet is expensive enough here why provide a free connection for your neighbours.

There is another issue, if one of the "sharers" visits a dubious web site and the Police/Interpol ask cyta who it was, the modem owner will receive a visit and have some trouble explaining that it was not his computer as the IP address is registered to the modem.

Digby

Hello bsharpish.

If i purchase a linksys/Cisco E2500 , do i stll need to use the cyta modem for the internet, or can i use the linksys/Cisco E2500 direct.
Or do i connect the Cyta modem by Ethernet to the linksys/Cisco E2500 and use that as wireless after swithching wireless off Cyta modem.

Thanks

The 'Internet' port looks like a RJ45 connector so you will connect the CYTA device into this one - your second option. Although in that configuration i`d probably be looking to get the CYTA device to run as a modem only, disable any routing function and other functions if possible - so the e2500 provides all the services locally, whilst the CYTA device provides the wide area connection.

Change your ssid or wep key then switch on wpa and you can't hack a cyta router, unless you have 10000 years to sit around.
It's all you need to do and is free, no need to splash any cash.

Btw when the person is inside your Lan remember the guard is down, it's a simple hack using admin$, c$ shares..

sod it while the cat is out of the bag!

Here check this, it'll frighten the life out of you.

http://nickkusters.com/Services/SpeedTouch/Lookup

bsharpish wrote:Ive been doing a lot of network set up/optimisation and pc repair work recently and at least 3 of the visits I've made have revealed the following -

Most people on the white cyta box are still using WEP security ....... This is easily hacked and I have had at 3 call outs in the last 7 days for " slow internet performance" which was actually sneaky neighbours stealing Internet.

In each case they were on the std cyta router with WEP encryption ...... Before the uninitiated get too worried .....It is highly unlikely that anyone will gain access to your PC .... BUT they will get a free ride off your connection.

I believe cyta may offer help in upgrading to WPA2 which is secure ...... I'd suggest you get in touch with them.

Alternatively ......... Spend a little extra on a better router with improved security and VASTLY better performance.

The linksys/Cisco E2500 is particularly easy to set (up for novices)and as standard offers significant security improvements.

Once you have installed your new router ..... Make sure you switch off the wireless function of the cyta router.

Please don't panic when reading this as its very unlikely that you will have any important data compromised , however , if your Internet is not performing .......... This may be the reason why.

I recently signed up with Cyta & one of the first things I wanted to do was ditch that cruddy Thomson router they give you & replace it with either a top end Netgear or Cisco job (I have more spare routers than I know what to do with)

I couldn't get either to work & when I called Cyta tech help for advice they told me that they were locked down & I had no choice but to use their box. I'm no more than a vaguely competent amateur when it comes to this stuff but my brother also tried & he's a Microsoft qualified computer engineer. How do you get Cyta to tell you the right settings?

I did set up my own netgear adsl modem several years ago, and it was the VCI/VPI settings, I think they were 8/35.

If you log in to the speedtouch it may show the settings somewhere, but you may have to clone the MAC address as well. You also have to release the ip before changing the modem out.

I have a speedtouch modem somewhere, I will check the settings later today.

Regards,


Digby

J&K wrote:Also worth unplugging the modem overnight to stop poachers downloading from dodgy sites.

Why are they nocturnal?

Detailed here is some other fun you can have with these routers.

http://www.kitz.co.uk/routers/speedtouch585.htm

This will also allow you to extract pretty much any low level info you might need.
The particularly dodgy part is where you can enable external access to everything.

All of this can be done from something as simple as an android phone.