Hi Deb,
> It's my understanding that when one is using a > wireless network the secondary computer receives > all incoming stuff from the main computer via > the wireless card on the secondary computer
Not sure exactly what you mean by "incoming stuff", or whether you're talking about having a wireless card in the desktop for some reason (?)
I'm talking about the Internet connection (incoming stuff off the Internet - surfing - my email is all "incoming" stuff to me) - comes in via the cable to the desktop then when the laptop is running it accesses the Internet via the little card I slide into it for the network connection.
Usually you have a separate wireless access point that is attached to your network and handles connections for all wireless kit. With this setup every device can talk to the others over your LAN, just like any equipment that's currently attached to your hub with CAT-5 cables.
I have a Linksys router. Plug the cable modem into the router, then the router cable goes to the port on the back of the PC. The laptop has a little card I slide into it when I need it and gains access to the Internet from there. Please explain exactly what the "access point" is so that I know for my own info.
FWIW I agree with the recommendations made recently - I think it may have been Todd, but sorry if it wasn't - that you should set a decent WEP key (at least 128-bit, but ideally 256) and use MAC-based access control. Also, if it's practical in your situation, only turn on the access point when you actually need it.
I'm working on that - getting help from Andrew =) When you say "turn on the access point only when I need it - how do I do that? I mostly only have my desktop running - laptop does not run constantly. If I only turn on the laptop and slide in the card when I need it - will that accomplish what you are talking about? Or do you mean I would need to swap cable in the port on the desktop? In other words when the laptop is not running - do I plug the cable modem in directly to the computer port or can I just leave the router and cables set up the way they are (ready for laptop network use) and accomplish this some other way? I really don't want to be swapping cables out whenever I need the network access on the laptop. They're not real accessible if you know what I mean?
It's also a nice touch to configure one of your boxes - the best bet is usually the modem - as the DHCP server for your network, which means you don't have to give fixed IP addresses to your other equipment (or guests who want to connect to your network).
It is set up to "Obtain IP addresses automatically" in the configuration, is that what you mean?
> what about my anti-virus? Do I need to have the > secondary computer have it's own anti-virus program
Yes, always, every computer, without exceptions, unless they're already properly secured (i.e. embedded in concrete and buried at the bottom of the sea).
LOL! You made a funny =)
> It's further my understanding that whatever I use for a > firewall is carrying over to the secondary computer.
Maybe, but it depends what your firewall is and how you have your connection set up. If you have a shared dial-up connection on your desktop PC, then whatever personal firewall you run will do its stuff on that connection on behalf of the entire network.
If you have a separate ADSL modem and you want to run a personal firewall then you'll need to install the software separately on each PC.
However:
> I'm using Norton Internet Security
<not-looking-for-a-flamewar-just-IMHO>
If you do have a separate ADSL modem instead of a dial-up connection on your computer, I'd uninstall Norton Internet Security right now.
I have a cable modem from the cable company sitting on my desk. I only use dialup like a couple times a year if cable is down.
Personal firewalls are fine if your computer is connected directly to the Internet. Without one, you can get hit hard by worms exploiting Windows bugs and life can become pretty miserable.
However, if you're behind a NAT-equipped ADSL modem that ignores any attacks by Blaster or Sasser or the equivalent worm-du-jour because it simply doesn't know what to do with them, then I don't see the need for an additional software layer which does the same job less effectively.
I'm guessing I'm not behind one of those because once in a great while my Norton throws me a message that says it intercepted a Trojan or some such thing - it just tells me it does this for information. It's not very often at all. I can only remember seeing this pop up like twice in gosh, I don't know how long now - many months any how.
Deb
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