Go here: https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?rh1dkyd2 and run all the tests.
I'm on a new Linksys, saw the article this AM, and found that the GRC tests gave me a clean bill of health.
Have ZoneAlarm and Norton ('04) installed, as well.
GRC wont tell you if your wireless network is safe, it will tell you your computer is safe, but someone can still access your wireless network and setup a server to email child porn, terror threats or whatever. Check the security on your access point/router. Setup router with 128 bit WEP or better, MAC Filtering and do not transmit SSID. Also set a different password then default. And if its a WRT54G router, there are a ton of alternate operating systems for them, most are free and allow a boatload of options over standard linksys firmware.
Thanks for your help - I'm going to ping a few others to this post to see what they think ...
My DLink DI-624 now allows only our local PC MAC IDs to access the network - both between PCs and the internet. I've installed LucidLink.com's wireless encryption and all systems run ZoneAlarm and McAfee 7? (hard to tell).
GRC reports port 113 (IDENT?) as closed but responding - everything else is "Stealth" level.
The LucidLink wireless encryption DEFINITELY shut down net access til I got it configured correctly. DO NOT change the default "shared secret" setting until you can ask someone how to set it on the client-side! I ALWAYS change default passwords but they say its not necessary and the client (wireless) does not seem to have an option to change the shared secret setting to that of the "Server" so I had to go back to the default to connect - otherwise - no problems.
Tarator: I've read enough about WEP limitations that I went looking for something else but thanks for the post.
Oh and BTW I don't know why I didn't remember to type in " ms-its:%windir%\Help\infrared.chm::/WLAN_client_add_WISP.htm" to pick up a stealth SSID - Sheesh! Actually if the gateway and client ssid match won't they connect? ;-)
.308 PSS: Come back and post any time! WIth the MAC ID filters nobody's going to easily drift in and steal my bandwidth - I'm next to a public park so thanks for your help and - in theory - I'm encrypted too. Thanks for the impetus. ;-)
ninenot: Thanks - I'm an 'ol time fan of grc.com! - I don't know if XP needs it but I'd always use Netbui for F&P shares disconnecting TCP/IP per his instructions. Blind Faith!
Anyway, thanks to all for their posts - I'd been meaning to at least limit network access to MAC IDs and that's now done with PCMAG approved wireless encryption as well (free for up to 3 wireless clients). Comments anyone?