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Thread ID: 128758 2013-01-13 18:32:00 Wireless network question? R.M. (561) Press F1
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1322565 2013-01-13 18:32:00 In an article in the local paper on web safety this morning, it suggests that one turns off the wireless net when not using it. Do you?

I don't - should I be worried?
R.M. (561)
1322566 2013-01-13 18:36:00 I dont, (well haven't since I put both computers on wireless here). Altho, it wouldnt take long. There's a switch on the back of the modem/router to turn it on and off Speedy Gonzales (78)
1322567 2013-01-13 19:04:00 No.
So long as you have it secured with WPA or the like I can't see any reason to.
CliveM (6007)
1322568 2013-01-13 19:22:00 Not much point if you don't have teens in the house gary67 (56)
1322569 2013-01-13 20:09:00 Yes, I pull the plug out of my wireless router when I am not using it (it is separate to my ADSL modem/router). I don't know, I just feel better if it isn't running all the time when not needed and besides, turning it off saves a wee bit of power. The ADSL modem is turned off when it is not being used as well. I read that if everyone switched off every appliance that sits on standby or has a little light showing, such as the volume/on/off controller of my speakers, then the power saved could run a city like Christchurch for a year. :stare: FoxyMX (5)
1322570 2013-01-13 20:32:00 No.
So long as you have it secured with WPA or the like I can't see any reason to.

+1
linw (53)
1322571 2013-01-13 21:53:00 Yes, I pull the plug out of my wireless router when I am not using it (it is separate to my ADSL modem/router). I don't know, I just feel better if it isn't running all the time when not needed and besides, turning it off saves a wee bit of power. The ADSL modem is turned off when it is not being used as well. I read that if everyone switched off every appliance that sits on standby or has a little light showing, such as the volume/on/off controller of my speakers, then the power saved could run a city like Christchurch for a year. :stare:

the router is one of probably 3 things that don't turned off at night, the others are my clock and the phone. It is very noticable how much you save, unfortunatley having a teen in the house negates it though as they are untrainable
gary67 (56)
1322572 2013-01-13 22:07:00 No.
So long as you have it secured with WPA or the like I can't see any reason to.

WPA is much more secure than WEP but still not uncrackable, especially if you have a weak password, or if your router has WPS.

I personally have a separate WiFi access point that I turn on when I want to use WiFi, but have it off the rest of the time. ADSL router I turn off at night, there's no reason to leave it on if I'm not using it, and leaving anything unnecessary on at night is a waste of power and a potential fire hazard.
Agent_24 (57)
1322573 2013-01-13 22:10:00 Nah I just leave the lot on. Secured with WPA2 (More secure yet again than WPA but not impenetrable) and besides, my wife and I quite often will leave stuff downloading or uploading. That or we'll be up at crazy hours. On top of that, it'd kill our VoIP phone and we'd never remember to actually switch it on in the AM.

From a "Safety / security" perspective, it matters very little. If somebody wants to break in, such as a neighbour, it's possible to have software that will just continue trying to crack your WiFi key when it comes back online. If that is your concern, don't worry about it. It's the same as trying to stop somebody from breaking into your car, an alarm will deter almost all but the most determined, and that's why you have insurance.
Chilling_Silence (9)
1322574 2013-01-14 04:48:00 Thanks for your comments. I'll make no changes to what I do. :) R.M. (561)
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