Airport Problem

[rustystill]

I'm on an Imac using airport to access the internet. Interestingly when I pull down the airport menu bar it shows 4 other networks there, none of them mine. I assume they are other households in my vicinity and one actually has my neighbor's name so I know who it is. Occasionally I find that my computer has actually switched networks and until I change back can't access the internet. Are these other computers able to get in and change my settings? Or is my airport hunting for networks and just pulling up the nearest available one? Is there any way to "block" these other networks and why do they show up on my computer in the first place? I've looked in all the preferences but can't find anything related specifically to "foreign" networks. Thanks for any info.

Jim

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes - you need to turn on security on your Wireless network, so you would need to enter a password to join the network. Change it to WPA or higher - WEP is the usual starting point for security, but it's simply not a secure type of connection, so use WPA/WPA2.
The wireless network is very short range (less than 150 ft/50meters), so your own wireless router would be much stronger. You can go into your System Preferences/Network pane, and click Advanced, then make sure that your own wireless network is at the top of the Preferred Networks list.

You did say that you only see other networks in the Airport menu?
Who is your Internet Service Provider (the service that you pay for), and what brand of wireless router do you have now?

Lastly - your neighbors can't get into your own network, if it is password-protected.
The other connections show up, because you are within range of their signal. Here at my location, I show about 15 wireless networks, but only 3 or 4 are strong enough to connect. Even those are secure. And, even if your network is unprotected, your neighbors can then use your internet connection, assuming they are close enough to get a good connection. Then, they are not connected to your computer, only your network. You would, of course, make sure that your firewall is turned on. Some routers will have a firewall that you can use for even more protection

 

[Amie]

I'm on an Imac using airport to access the internet. Interestingly when I pull down the airport menu bar it shows 4 other networks there, none of them mine. I assume they are other households in my vicinity and one actually has my neighbor's name so I know who it is. Occasionally I find that my computer has actually switched networks and until I change back can't access the internet. Are these other computers able to get in and change my settings? Or is my airport hunting for networks and just pulling up the nearest available one? Is there any way to "block" these other networks and why do they show up on my computer in the first place? I've looked in all the preferences but can't find anything related specifically to "foreign" networks. Thanks for any info.

Jim

Hello Jim,
If I understand your question correctly, no your neighbors can't get in your computer and change your settings (if you have your system password protected and your firewall and security measures are sufficient). The reason your computer is showing those other networks is because they are neighboring networks and your AirPort is designed to "look for" any networks within the vicinity. Do you turn your AirPort homebase station off when you're not using it? The reason I ask this is because (if the answer is "yes"), the reason that your own network is not showing COULD be, at least in my experience, that your computer hasn't detected it yet. Sometimes it takes a few moments after you turn your AirPort on for your computer to detect it. If your neighbors' homebase station is already switched on and yours isn't, that may be why theirs are showing up first and not your own.