NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.

Forum Discussion

FredReed's avatar
FredReed
Aspirant
Feb 24, 2017
Solved

Build a LAN with a WNDR3400v2

I'm trying to make a wifi LAN with 4 devices for sharing. I don't need full time internet as it's a metered connection and I want to keep data usage down to a minimum. (It seems I need the internet connection for updating/setup for the router) All I have for internet connection is wireless hotspot on my S4.

"EVERYONE" claims I need "fulltime" internet or WAN to operate a LAN. I've seen C/NET articles that state LAN networks can be set up WITHOUT internet connection. C/NET is a well respected website with a wealth of good information about computer technology. What I can't find is HOW to set up the LAN I want.

The devices I want to share with are: HP TouchSmart IQ500 series desktop w/W10

                                                            Asus Eee PC 1005PEB netbook w/W7 Starter

                                                            Polaroid M10 2-1 tablet  w/Marshmallow

                                                            Galaxy SPH1337 S4 smartphone w/KitKat 4.4.2

It's a conundrum and challenge for me and would love for a knowledgeable tech person to help me figure this out. I'm willing to email off here and will post results to this if it's solved. I admit, it's bigger than the subject line.

OH, how do I change my email address here? Nothing listed in my profile or settings.

 


  • FredReed wrote:

    I forgot to mention this, I read about and watched a demonstration on "Pixiedust".

    I'm not sure if it was a "brute force" attack over the internet or over the wifi signal.

    Do you know? I'm sure there are newer ones since then too.


    These attacks are to break into wifi.  Your router is not vulnerable to Pixie Dust.  I haven't seen anything specific on WPS brute force attacks.  But if you simply disable WPS on your router, you won't be vulnerable to this whole class of attacks. 

     

     

    Passphrases (and pins) can always be attacked by brute-force (which amounts to trying all possible passphrases).  There are ways to slow these attacks down - for instance, if the router is slow to respond after a couple of failed connection attempts, then the brute-force attack will take a lot longer.  Even a small delay is enough to make these attacks useless (because there are so many passphrases to try).     

     

    If you are worried about this particular threat, you can reduce the risk by turning your router's wifi off when you aren't using it, and by changing the passphrase from time to time.  In general, longer passphrases will be harder to discover by brute force guessing.  

     

     

57 Replies

  • Thanks StephenB,
    You're right, the secured systems are much harder to crack. Mine was not secure two years ago but then no one did anything to my computer, fortunately. It was pretty scary though to watch my pointer going through my files and I wasn't touching my mouse! It was as if there was a remote connection set up. There wasn't!!
    It was through this same router too. WPS wasn't used though and I'm looking to turn it off if it isn't already. I now live in a differant area.
    The security is also set on the 2nd highest setting.
    When I'm done, I now turn off the router so there's no connection being broadcast.
    I'm at the point of selecting what to share and learning how to "see", "broadcast" and "copy" my files to the other computers and someday to a tv.
    The downloading is done through a public wifi on one of my portables.
    Most information comes from the safest website on this earth. (I'll let anyone know privately)
    I'm not advertising but the "free" AV
    installed on my computer has a "trusted" website marker on all the listed sites. It places a colored marker, green with a checkmark, red or black with a question mark. You know which sites have a good, bad or unknown reputation. You can look at it. If there's an issue, you can mark it red. Conversely, if it good, it can be marked trusted. This is another method of keeping the bad stuff out. Netgear wants you to have a safe time on the internet. So do I.
    Now, it"s late. Good night.
    • FredReed's avatar
      FredReed
      Aspirant

      I have now gone through the set up of my LAN with the help of StephenB, flexed my new found Aspirant

      muscles and had to step back. StephenB, you have been immensely patient with me and deserve the kudos

      for your help. I will be working these procedures to memorize them. Now to find the kudos button for 

      StehenB. Great work!

    • William10a's avatar
      William10a
      Master

      The worst part the scene you paint with the mouse pointer moving and files being access by someone who broke into your network is letting them yourself under the story that they work for Microsoft's Internet security. The scam that has been going on for years a foreign sounding voice calls and  says your computer has a problem and they are from Microsoft Internet security they have you look for curtain number on your windows it will be there it has been a part every windows put out. The true scam starts when they want remote access to your computer and find errors in the event logs that are normal and offer to fix the problems with their magically software for just 400 dollars even if you refuse they say that you paid 400 dollars for their service and offer to refund but you have to give a credit card number to get it. They claim if you have a Apple computer they can fix it remotely too.

      • FredReed's avatar
        FredReed
        Aspirant

        Thank you William10a,

        I never heard a voice when it happened at that time. What did happen was it actually opened my files!

        WHILE I WATCHED MY SCREEN!

        They were MY files, with MY information on them not some psudo make believe files. I did get that

        one you mentioned that actually called me on my phone and offered that $400.00 dollar fixit charge.

        I have no credit card, I told him to take a hike! I already paid a reputable company for computer service, not him.

        Now, every now and again I get a popup that vocally claims I have a trogan, virus etc and

        claims I have to install a "Microsoft" program or call a "special" phone number to "clean" my

        computer. It happens only when I'm surfing and hit on a malicious website. Their screen will lock up

        my mouse pointer "clicks", all except their "button" and freeze my screen response and I'll need to use 

        Task Manager to close the browser and reopen with a fresh search address. (I never click "restore browsing session")

        It only happens when I tether with my smartphone and I'm online, not when I'm using my LAN which 

        has NO internet connection at all. I have an Avast subscription to clean and restore operability

        and speed to my computer. What I need then is an unmetered connection as it can take hours to

        straighten out my computer. My NETGEAR router is working just fine and Avast has serviced my computer

        through this same router when I used to have a high speed cable connection.

  • I'm not connected to the Internet so unless they break into my router when it's on, I get no popups or intruders.
    Right now, I'm looking to access my 2 Androids from the PCs and my PCs from my Androids. Haven't figured that out yet. PC to PC is working through home groups at the moment. As normal, finding any file sharing settings on the Androids has proven elusive.
  • I currently have a slide show from my W10 showing on my W7 and vice-versa.
    Grrrr on the Androids!
    • StephenB's avatar
      StephenB
      Guru - Experienced User

      As we've discussed  over PM, there are apps on Android that support SMB (Microsoft Network Sharing).  Solid Explorer and ES File Explorer are two that I've used.  GoodReader works with iOS, likely there are others.

       

      Of course that just lets you access the file.  Rendering it properly also requires the right app(s).