Bt homehub security.

[robby boy]

I think my inlaws wireless router has been hacked, for the last couple of months their usage has near doubled compared to the months before, they only use their computer to access Facebook and send a few emails. (don't download films or music) Does anyone in the foccer font of knowledge know how to change the password/security so we can try and block neighbours using their allowance, They have a homehub 3. many thanks Rob.

[sadlonelygit]

'A group of ethical hackers has warned that the BT Home Hub, the wireless router provided to BT Broadband customers, can easily be hacked if left to operate using its default settings. GNUCitizen.org said that it had been reverse-engineering the BT Home Hub, which is made by a firm called Thomson, with independent security researcher Kevin Devine and found that algorithms used by the device were predictable enough for hackers to be able to crack. Two standards of wireless encryption, WEP (wired equivalent privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi protected access), have been used over the years and concerns about the security of the older standard, WEP, appear to be confirmed by GNUCitizen's findings. "It's quite likely that the bad guys can break into your network if youre using the default encryption key. Our advice is: use WPA rather than WEP and change the default encryption key now," GNUCitizen said. BT said in a statement: "It's important to realise that although it has been possible to demonstrate a scenario where the hub may be vulnerable, we don't believe it is something that should affect the majority of BT customers in real life." "It is not only BT that has been affected by this, it is an issue for many operators that use Thomson routers," the statement continued. BT has also published details about how to secure your Home Hub and how to enable WPA encryption on your wireless router. Another problem insecure wireless networks can lead to is people "piggybacking" your connection, potentially downloading illegal material that can be traced to your broadband account. This could lead to you being cut off from your ISP if new rules proposed by the music industry are implemented. http://tinyurl.com/4dgrw4 www.gnucitizen.org'

oh-er

[robby boy]

Thanks for that, the piggy bavcking thing looks like what has happened. I will have a go at changing the password next time I am down.

[Sunny Intervals]

This is a handy little tool to see who's connected to your network,

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_network_watcher.html

[Sunny Intervals]

Oop's forgot to ask 

Any new mobiles or other devices in the house, that could be connecting and downloading data and updates.

Not a lot of mbs, but if they had very small usage to start with, it could make a difference

[goldfazer]

Shirely one of the features of the home hub is that it becomes a hotspot, so anyone with a BT login can use it?

[goldfazer]

Best way is to use MAC address filtering. That'll stop 'em

[Janet]

Shirely one of the features of the home hub is that it becomes a hotspot, so anyone with a BT login can use it?

 
Only if you want it to be. If you want access to other people's home hubs you have to make access to yours available. It's known as BT FON. It's easy to check whether this has been set up on your hub by going into the hub (the URL is http://bthomehub.home/ on Home Hub 3, I'm not sure what it is on earlier versions). On mine it then says "BT FON: Not active on your BT Home Hub" on the first page that you're presented with. I also checked the wireless security on mine and it was set up as WPA and WPA2 from new as far as I can see (that's what it is and I haven't changed it). I've had my HH3 for just over a year. Of course computer game consoles (like the Playstation Vita I was surprised with for my recent birthday) also connect to the Web, but to do that the wireless key has to be entered into the device, so the home hub owner should know that that connection has been made.

[Hodge]

Best way is to use MAC address filtering. That'll stop 'em

This is the additional security you need to be employing.

[1967fazer]

Definately get the security sorted, I've piggybacked before and it was easy when said wireless router was not properly secured, even just changing the password will help stop idiots like me jumping on your router! Would just like to say, I dont do it anymore!
Also, its not just illegal music downloading you need to worry about, its anything that can be downloaded including certain types of illegal (and dispicable) pictures, which can be, as far as I'm aware, traced to your router/broadband account! Get it sorted and quick!

[Sunny Intervals]

but to do that the wireless key has to be entered into the device, so the home hub owner should know that that connection has been made.

You would think so wouldn't you 
But it is quite easy to forget that you connected your fone 10 months ago, but only just started using  something on it that downloads data 

[robby boy]

Thanks for all the replies folks, I have not been able to get down to try some of your suggestions, but am staying over on Friday night so will have a looky over the weekend. they are also going off on holiday for a couple of weeks, I am tempted to leave it til then and see if there is any usage whilst they are away.