What happens if disable the wep protection on my router but i have avg anti virus ?

Question

What happens if disable the wep protection on my router but i have avg anti virus ?

Answer 1

Avg is only an anti virus. disabling your wep lets anyone who wants to use your wirless conection to do so. I highly suggest you turn your wep back on. Avg does not stop people from hacking. Its only takes care of known viruses.

Answer 2

anyone with a wireless card can access your network.

Answer 3

There are a few issues...whether or not they bother you is your choice...

1. anyone can connect (piggyback) and steal your intenet (which slows it down for you)

2. Your information isn't encrytped at all (WEP isn't that good but it's better than nothing) so it's much easier for someone to intercept personal information (such as online banking, credit card purchases, etc)

3. Since you don't have firewall software (AVG is antivirus only) it's quite easy for anyone who connects to access (or take control of) your computer and get personal information that way

4. Piggybackers could do illegal activities (e.g. music downloads, kiddie p**n, etc) and it'll trace back to you (it's your connection, therefore you'd get blamed) and make your life miserable

5. I'd bet if a hacker had the choice between an unsecure connection or having to break through encryption before getting to business, they'd try the unencrypted one first...just like if they were going to steal a car, they'd probably pick an unlocked one before a locked one (assuming everything else is the same)

Bottom line, if you can have wireless encryption, use it.  If all your computers/game-systems/etc. supports WPA-PSK use that - it's much more secure.

Answer 4

getting a virus is not the problem.  The problem is, with an unsecured (open) access point, anyone (your neighbors for example) can access your wireless router and surf the 'net.  No biggie right?  It can be.  What if your neighbor is a pervert and is downloading child p**n through your connection?  Or is uploading viruses to internet.  Or sending out massive amounts of spam from his house.  If the FBI investigates they end up tracking the IP number to your house since that's where the everything originated from.  Paranoid? Maybe, but why let someone else use your internet access for free?  Just remember, anything they do on the internet, gets traced back to your house and you'd have a tough time proving you weren't the one that did whatever you were being accused of.

Answer 5

Your router will not be encrypted anymore.  What this means for you is that if someone has a WiFi card built into their laptop, they can search for your wireless network and use it without your consent.  The WEP encryption makes it so you and only you can use your internet, so long as you have entered the WEP key for the WiFi.  Usually, once you have entered it into your notebook, it will remember next time.  If you take WEP off, just know you might be sharing your internet.  Hope this helps. =)