Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[beans-on-toast]

Funny how an image triggers memories....

As a paperboy, at one point we weren’t allowed to fold and throw the papers onto the lawn. They had to be on the step or inside the outer door. More work, you couldn’t throw it from the street anymore. This was the beginning of the end.

We made about a dollar a day on commission but there were tips when we collected once a week. It was also steady work, six days a week plus another day to collect. Saturdays were a killer because of the extra inserts, weight wise it was like two papers. We had to carry extra bags. We were given a bill each week and we had to pay the newspaper. If someone didn’t pay you for their papers on time, it came out of your pocket.

Delivering flyers for a local grocery store was $1 for a couple of hours after school on Wednesday. Our school got let out half an hour before the others so we had an advantage in being picked. We would all pile into a van and be dropped off in the neighborhoods. We had to run to get them distributed before the van returned. When the driver saw a cop car he would yell at us to duck down. The cops never stopped the van.

 

[BadExample]

Spectrum.

Cable modem and router.View attachment 3242109

Thanks. The yella and blue wires are regular net work cables? Where do those go? One to the wired computer I guess and the other goes to what?

 

[ZonieBass]

the service tech took one look at it and said that they just replace them with a different model when they develop issues. They know that certain products need to be replaced.

I used to train those techs before I retired. Unfortunately, what that usually translates to is, "I don't know anything about your router, I'll replace it with one I know how to install/program.

how does the provider "find" your cable modem on their servers?

They find it by the MAC address. Every device in the world that is capable of "talking" on the internet (or private network) has a unique MAC address.

I use MAC filtering as well as encryption in my private router. If you aren't on my MAC access list, even if you can figure out my password, you are not getting in.

 

[ZonieBass]

One to the wired computer I guess and the other goes to what?

One has to go to the public interface that allows access to the service provides network, (Cable, telco, etc.)

 

[BadExample]

One has to go to the public interface that allows access to the service provides network, (Cable, telco, etc.)

Trying to find out what it is. He could have a modem/router there, or just a router with a WAN input that goes to another device.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I used to train those techs before I retired. Unfortunately, what that usually translates to is, "I don't know anything about your router, I'll replace it with one I know how to install/program.




They find it by the MAC address. Every device in the world that is capable of "talking" on the internet (or private network) has a unique MAC address.

I use MAC filtering as well as encryption in my private router. If you aren't on my MAC access list, even if you can figure out my password, you are not getting in.

How stupid of me. I knew that. It's just early a.m. Sunday in Sitka and I plead no coffee!

I did turn off broadcasting on my wi-fi router but I like the idea of MAC filtering. The only problem with that is when the kids come, or friends visit, I have to remember to allow them access-- which means, I'll have to physically handle their phones or whatever to find their MAC address. Ever tried to take a phone from a millennial? LOL

 

[BadExample]

I'm wondering if this is the cable:

Looks like two separate devices, and the blue network cable might go nowhere.

 

[BadExample]

How stupid of me. I knew that. It's just early a.m. Sunday in Sitka and I plead no coffee!

I did turn off broadcasting on my wi-fi router but I like the idea of MAC filtering. The only problem with that is when the kids come, or friends visit, I have to remember to allow them access-- which means, I'll have to physically handle their phones or whatever to find their MAC address. Ever tried to take a phone from a millennial? LOL

I would just sniff your mac addresses out of the air

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I would just sniff your mac addresses out of the air

I've heard of that bro Bad but please do tell. Now my network inexperience is showing. A MAC sniffer-- software?

 

[GonePlaid]

I've heard of that bro Bad but please do tell. Now my network inexperience is showing. A MAC sniffer-- software?

FWIW[pretty much nothing], I can't "like" all this tech stuff that I haven't the first clue of the meaning(s).

 

[BadExample]

I'll PM it. I don't tell white hat trade secrets out in the open (although that's not going to stop anyone that's determined).

 

[BadExample]

FWIW[pretty much nothing], I can't "like" all this tech stuff that I haven't the first clue of the meaning(s).

Bro., give me a couple more years to get retired, then I'll trade my IT skills for your musical skills!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I'll PM it. I don't tell white hat trade secrets out in the open (although that's not going to stop anyone that's determined).

Thanks, but I also had a thought about the consumer level wi-fi routers. Don't they also report of list of devices by MAC somewhere under wireless security? I thought I saw that in one of my routers.

 

[Al Kraft]

...and people wonder why I go hardwired whenever possible and change MAC addresses periodically on assets that allow that. I also roll my IP addresses frequently as my service provider only uses sticky IP addresses and not permanent ones.

 

[BadExample]

If you also use the wireless security, they have to crack your password there. It doesn't mean they can't. I don't do wireless banking for the most part, and very careful when I do and make sure nothing funny is going on. The old IT saying, without physical security, there is no security. As soon as you are on a wifi device, you just (virtually) lost your physical security for as far as your signal goes. Neighbors kid is smart, bored and has a lot of time on his hands...

 

[GonePlaid]

If you also use the wireless security, they have to crack your password there. It doesn't mean they can't. I don't do wireless banking for the most part, and very careful when I do and make sure nothing funny is going on. The old IT saying, without physical security, there is no security. As soon as you are on a wifi device, you just (virtually) lost your physical security for as far as your signal goes. Neighbors kid is smart, bored and has a lot of time on his hands...

Even when I don't understand the tech stuff, I do 'get' that last sentence.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Years ago, I put myself in a bad position. I was using an antiquated CAD program. Nothing could be upgraded but it worked for what I was doing. One day I got an email that originated in California that had a virus piggybacked on it. It blew my Apple hardware and wormed the disk files. Given the costs to get it running again, I decided to start all over. The CAD files couldn't be imported into the new system. Everything was lost.

It taught me a lesson to never rely on software products and operating systems that are no longer supported.

I now have a secure computer that I use for just work.

 

[beans-on-toast]

If you also use the wireless security, they have to crack your password there. It doesn't mean they can't. I don't do wireless banking for the most part, and very careful when I do and make sure nothing funny is going on. The old IT saying, without physical security, there is no security. As soon as you are on a wifi device, you just (virtually) lost your physical security for as far as your signal goes. Neighbors kid is smart, bored and has a lot of time on his hands...

There are a lot of students in my neighborhood as well. Every once in a while when I feel that something is going on, I shut down for a while. They move on, there are ample other targets out there.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

So, to me: wired when possible. Turn off broadcasting. Although when I look through the networks available there are a dozen or more just in our little neighborhood. Most families don't know they're broadcasting their router. Wife does all major money business still by check and phone. Land line.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Our bank sends us an email every time a card is used. I like that level of security.

When buying gas, the card goes into the pump, I get the email before the car is even filled.