Millenniumle
join:2007-11-11
Erie, PA
edit:
May 22nd, @07:16PM
| Configure wireless over wireless?
I recently updated may last holdout machine from W2K to XP and updated my wireless encryption to WPA2. As I was fiddling with the router today I noticed the settings I was inputting were being transmitted in the url (visible in the browser status bar when "apply" was clicked in the router configuration window).
I went ahead and connected to the router over LAN and updated both the router password and wireless key to be safe. If the router is already encrypted are http headers encrypted too, such that logging into the router and/or configuring the router over wireless doesn't expose passwords and keys? |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Yes, if your wireless net is secure, then it is safe to access the router configuration over wireless. Everything TCP/IP is encrypted, and that includes the HTTP headers. The ethernet info (includes MAC address) is unencrypted, but the TCP/IP stuff is all protected.
It is wise to use a wired connection when modifying the WiFi configuration, in case you break something and lose access. Also, when setting up the first time, the WiFi is initially insecure for most routers, so you will want to do the initial security setup from a wired connection for maximum security.
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AT&T dsl; Westell 327w modem/router; SuSE 10.1; firefox 2.0.0.14 |
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Millenniumle
join:2007-11-11
Erie, PA
| reply to Millenniumle
Thank you.
That's a good point about the initial setup. I think I did the initial over LAN, but it's been long enough for my short memory to forget. 
What alerted me was seeing the word "password" in the url, followed by what appeared to be hex - which I presume was the router log-in password in hex. I imagine configuration of the encryption key is sent the same way.
At least I now know I can safely log-in over wireless when encryption is already configured. Thanks again. |
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Anav
Sarcastic Llama? Naw, Just Acerbic
Premium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS | reply to nwrickert
I am living proof of the need to have wired accessibility.
It only takes one once to realize how quickly one can shut ones self off the wifi network.  |
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