Computer and data security

Am I accomplishing anything by disconnecting the internet cable from my computer and wireless router from both the internet and my computer when those services are not in use, or am I just wasting time and energy?

“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.”
― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

pushing the power button on the router or modem would accomplish the same thing without digging out the cables.

I have never disconnected the cables when not in use but I have a decent router security and firewall.

Shady said:

pushing the power button on the router or modem would accomplish the same thing

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maybe... Is it an actual switch or a button controlled by the router's software?

Shady said:

pushing the power button on the router or modem would accomplish the same thing without digging out the cables.

I have never disconnected the cables when not in use but I have a decent router security and firewall.

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I use my home wireless very little, mostly just to downlaod a book from the library every now and again. So I keep it powered down (pull the power cable) and disconnected from the internet the majority of the time as a result of the recent wireless router hacking scares.

I, however, do use the wired internt a lot. How else would I be able to talk to you guys? LOL

When the wireless router is disconnected (most of the time) I just plug my internt cable directly in to my computer which runs most of the day, albeit in sleep mode a majority of the time. But I worry about it (computer) being hacked when connected.

Yes, I have security software, and I have important files locked and encrypted, but I tell myself I am limiting my exposure by simply not being connected to the internet when I didn't need to be. But that is why I am asking the question.

And overnight, or when I am away, the computer is powered down and the internet cable from by cable router is removed.

The most secure router in the world is the one that's unplugged and powered down...
of course it's not doing it's intended job (routing), either... Network and system security is a trade-off between that and wide open with no passwords.

The more secure, the more PITA it is to work with it. It's not going to hurt anything- but I personally wouldn't go to the effort to disconnect it physically. One reason to actually do that is during storms... if you've got cable or DSL (anything non-fiber, really) then you can get lightning damage even without a direct strike as long as they're plugged in.

Many modern computers actually power up the LAN card even with the computer off (you'll see the lights on typically if that's the case)... they can get a WOL (Wake On LAN) command to power them up fully- but that would be exceptionally difficult to do thru a router (one side of the router is not the same LAN/WAN as the other side)

If you really want to freak out, with the right equipment someone could sniff the packets that you have on your WIRED ethernet from outside your house... UTP (Un-shielded Twisted Pair) CAT5/5e is not perfect, and the signal can actually be picked up at a reasonable distance with a good directional antenna and sensitive receivers... STP (Shielded) and/or jamming equipment to create so much noise that it's too hard to find the signal are the only defense against that... but the NSA would have to have a real reason to come after you- and if you're on the internet, they already know what you're doing anyway.

Have you looked into entire drive encryption, not just file encryption? What about a VPN service? In the end, you'll have to sacrifice some things for security if you really want to beef up your computer security. Good anti-virus/malware software, password-protected WiFi, and secure browsing habits can keep the crypto-kiddies out, who are probably your biggest threat. It sounds like you are already good-to-go.

AustinN4 said:

Am I accomplishing anything by disconnecting the internet cable from my computer and wireless router from both the internet and my computer when those services are not in use, or am I just wasting time and energy?

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You're wasting your time and energy. You are most vulnerable when you are online, so it's your actions and precautions that determine how well protected you will be...

it's called an Air Gap, it is a viable security measure. it takes only seconds to plug a cord in.

Don’t forget to turn off any wireless connections as well. My laptop automatically latches on to any available network connection available. Plug it in and it runs off the wires. Unplug it and it defaults back to the wireless card. Same for my sons desktop.

You can unplug all you want and it will stop a low percentage of threats. The majority of threats are self inflicted. Risky browsing habits. No firewalls. Following a link from an email...

TAZ said:

The majority of threats are self inflicted.

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^^^^^^This.

Lunyfringe said:

with the right equipment someone could sniff the packets that you have on your WIRED ethernet from outside your house

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This hasn't been particularly difficult for the last 20 years, at least. As you say, though, someone has to be really motivated to go to that much trouble. For normal humans, it's not going to happen; you have to have made some very well-funded, savvy, generally governmental agency enemies.

TAZ said:

The majority of threats are self inflicted. Risky browsing habits. No firewalls. Following a link from an email...

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Agreed. The funny part about all antivirus companies is their software stops the KNOWN issues. Zero day attack viruses would be the primary worry though using a firewall, antivirus software, anti-malware software and encrypted network passwords are required. Most people I've seen hacked clicked a link from some odd text or email that was socially engineered or they were on some questionable site (porn, free illegal music/movies, using BitTorrent, hotel wifi, etc). I tend to worry more about old school hacks at the corporate level since I work in IT. Card scanners at ATMs and fuel pumps are much easier to use for obtaining valuable information from individuals.

dsgrey said:

Agreed. The funny part about all antivirus companies is their software stops the KNOWN issues. Zero day attack viruses would be the primary worry though using a firewall, antivirus software, anti-malware software and encrypted network passwords are required. Most people I've seen hacked clicked a link from some odd text or email that was socially engineered or they were on some questionable site (porn, free illegal music/movies, using BitTorrent, hotel wifi, etc). I tend to worry more about old school hacks at the corporate level since I work in IT. Card scanners at ATMs and fuel pumps are much easier to use for obtaining valuable information from individuals.

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This is one reason why my kids don't get admin rights on their PC. Limits the damage they can do clicking on that crap...

Lunyfringe said:

This is one reason why my kids don't get admin rights on their PC. Limits the damage they can do clicking on that crap...

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I don't even give myself admin rights.

That’s why I use an iPad for most of my internet browsing, and all of my hotel internet usage.

Going to weird sites and/or downloading random things from everywhere will by and large be the biggest reason you have to fear malware or snooping, because even if you shut your connections off during the day, any network back doors or malware you have on your PC's will just start right back up again when you come home and turn everything on to use.

Turning your wireless off may keep a non-government entity standing outside from hacking your home network, but the chances of that happening on a random basis are probably pretty slim unless a hacker or some other group of individuals is known to be doing this in your area. A better defense would be to ensure your wireless internet has a strong password, is not on an old and easily hackable security WiFi security standard like WPA, and you have good anti-virus on your computers that does regular scans.

Combined with clean browsing habits, regular security updates, and not falling for email phishing scams or anything like that would probably be a lot easier than constantly fiddling with your connection, although if you're one of the people that's concerned with the potential health effects from radio wave radiation, or you just don't want whatever power your router uses to show up on your electricity bill.

I don't know if you possess the know-how or not, but if your router is reasonably new, it may have a feature on its OS that you can access where you can program it to completely disallow all connections for a set period of time, like say should you both be gone from the house from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or when you sleep like from 8:30 PM to 6:00 AM. It's not as secure as physically unplugging anything, but then again it probably also won't be as much of a hassle either.

If you visit Facebook, buy from Amazon, or visit any Google sites, you're already being tracked Some cell phones may also be compromised and be listening in. My brother is convinced the advertisers are listening to his conversations on his phone. He'll see online ads for things he only ever talked audibly about, and never searched for.

OK Google.....