john ha wrote:


Snipped...



Finally, I'm just trying to put my mind at ease
to understand if a neighbor hacker
can break into my Vista computer
and access the hard drive's files,
if my laptop is wirelessly connected to an unsecured router
(meaning they connect to the unsecured router, and connect
to my laptop that's wirelessly connected to the router).

I accidentally left the connection unsecured (it's been secured)
for 2 hours, and wondering if they could have broken in and
accessed/transferred/stolen
files that were stored on the hard drive.

Is it possible?





Yes, it is possible. It's even easy if the purported hacker/cracker
knows (or can detect) your computer's name. All WinNT-descended
operating systems, of which Vista is one, has a built-in, albeit hidden,
administrative "Share" of which any serious hacker/cracker would be
aware. This is why, as I've already mentioned, the standard security
practice is to rename the built-in Administrator account, set a strong
password on it.

Now, is it likely? Probably not. First of all, one of your neighbors
would have to want to hack/crack others' computers, acquire the
knowledge, skills, and tools to do so, and then want to get at /your/
files in particular. And then they'd have to do so during that two hour
window when your wireless router was unsecured.


--

Bruce Chambers

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