I have a laptop with a wireless modem, would anyone be able to connect to my computer and use my internet connection? I have a firewall, and I set the network connection to home first, but I just switched it to public, after reading that setting it to public connection was safer. I want to disable file sharing and all that, but I'm sure where to go to do that, I can see those setings are set to on, but the option to turn them off is grayed out.

Basically, how can I make it so that nobody can connect to my computer and/or use my internet connection?

If it's not secure they can.

I don't know if it's secure or not.

i have several friends who connect to their neighbors all the time!!!!!

Does making it public just show your internet access to people in your area? When I click to get on my ex's connection there are several other households, but they are security enabled...you need a password to get on them.

There's a secure connection around me, but I think it's a home connection with a wireless router, not sure. There's another one I can pickup outside, but I don't know if it's secure or not. I don't want to connect to anyones computer, and I don't want them connecting to me. I don't want to go over my internet useage because someone else is connection to my computer.

I'm connected via wireless broadband, not wifi. I have my wifi turned off.

Run your internet setup wizard again and it should give you the option to turn off file sharing

Make sure your firewall is up too

I tried that, but the settings are still on, I can't turn them off.

This site has some good info...

http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/wireless-security.aspx

Thanks for the link, I'll check that out.

They shouldn't be able to connect to your computer itself while it's secure. However, if your internet connection isn't password secured, it's pretty easy for someone to connect their computer to your connection.

Well, yes... and no.

I assume when you say you have a wireless modem that you either have a wireless router or a dsl/cablemodem with a wireless router built in.

There are 3 things I do to secure my network. First and most important, use encryption. Look for WPA or WPA2 or the like. WEP is ok, but it's not nearly as strong as it was once thought. Then configure your wirless connection in your laptop to the same encryption and plug in the key/password

Second, there should be a place in your router config to only allow the MAC addresses of the specific network cards on the computers you want to connect. If you don't know how to get your MAC address, send me an email and I'll step you through it.

Third.. and this is really overkill, but I do it. When everything is set up and running, I turn off the 'Broadcast SID' option in your roouter. Once you have your router set up and you have the SID noted in your wireless settings on your laptop, you don't really need your router to broadcast it to you... and the world. There are some down sides to this. If you use your computer on other wireless networks, then it can become problematic to reset it back to your home one when you get home. Also, adding new computers to your network usually involves turning it back on. Frankly, for non-tech types I usually leave this one alone.

I realize that's not all in laymans terms, but hopefully it gets you pointed in the right direction.

No, there's no router at all, it's a Sierra Wireless 598U USB modem.

Lol, sorry... completely off base there. I've wondered about the aircard security myself, since technically your side of the network is exposed. I'm the one that needs to read the darn link, lol.

I'm trying to look it up but I'm not getting anywhere.

Anyone can use your internet connection. And get into your laptop. You can only secure it from an accidental connection attempt. If someone is determined enough, they will break in.

Don't sweat it, let people connect and use your connection. This is the price of convenience.

Why did you chose wireless method of connection? For convenience and hype. That's o.k., and there is a price, there is always a price.

If this doesn't sound good for you, then use wired connection. Way less maintenance too.

Wireless Connection
-Advantages: Hype, Convenience
-Disadvantages: Insecurity, Slow Speed.

Wired Connection
-Advantages: Secure, High Speed
-Disadvantages: Old Fashioned, Inconvenient.

I don't notice a difference between my cable and wireless speed.