Secure my browsing

[Pouchie1]

Hello,

How can I secure my home wireless network to prevent other users on my home network from viewing my browsing history? Let's say we have a user that I allow access to my home wireless network, but I want to prevent his from having access to my browsing history on my laptop from his computer. First of all, is that possible? I realized that sometimes, he is telling me about sites I visited online. I don't know how he could do that. It looks like sometimes he even gets my bank account password.

Thanks,

[deepsand]

Before anyone can begin to help, you'll need to provide more information, such as a description of your local area network, what Operating Systems/versions are in use, what networking protocol(s) are being used, how the guest in question is accessing the network, and what evidence there is of unauthorized access to local data files.

[Rats]

I feel deepsand is wrong:
In that no prior knowledge of your local network, Operating Systems/versions,
networking protocol/s, method of network access,or evidence of "unauthorized" access
is required to point out the fact that

If you have not set password/s on your hardware (modem/router/s), anyone on
your network can view the web addresses of all sites currently connected on
the Internet.

Not only that, but if no password or "default" password is left, any security
settings you have made on your hardware (modem/router) can be changed/eliminated
by any user, including resetting the password/s themselves or installing customized firmware
that that would in effect prevent your access to the hardware settings permanently.

You would do well to read your ISP's terms of service. Allowing access to others
outside your immediate household (room if rooming house/dorm, apt, house ect.)
is almost surely expressly prohibited.

Consider that you are responsible for all traffic originating from your Internet
connection. ISP imposed penalties or the potential loss of funds from a bank
account pale in contrast to the grief faced by those who have had traffic back traced
that included Child Porn, interstate prostitution, Presidential death threats, International
terrorist activity to name a few.

All the above begs the question why you would "allow" an obviously untrusted
individual access to your personal network.

If the individual in question has physical access to any of your hardware,
you have deeper problems than a forum can resolve.

A virus/malware scan on all computers is recommended.

Good luck,
Rats

[deepsand]

I feel deepsand is wrong:
In that no prior knowledge of your local network, Operating Systems/versions,
networking protocol/s, method of network access,or evidence of "unauthorized" access
is required to point out the fact that

If you have not set password/s on your hardware (modem/router/s), anyone on
your network can view the web addresses of all sites currently connected on
the Internet.

Not only that, but if no password or "default" password is left, any security
settings you have made on your hardware (modem/router) can be changed/eliminated
by any user, including resetting the password/s themselves or installing customized firmware
that that would in effect prevent your access to the hardware settings permanently.

Given that there are any number of way possible scenarios here, it is not possible to do more than attempt to enumerate all, an approach that is neither feasible nor helpful.

All you've done here is assume a few cases out the totality of those possible, with absolutely no evidence to suggest that any of them here apply.

Before prescribing, diagnose.

You would do well to read your ISP's terms of service. Allowing access to others
outside your immediate household (room if rooming house/dorm, apt, house ect.)
is almost surely expressly prohibited.

Consider that you are responsible for all traffic originating from your Internet
connection. ISP imposed penalties or the potential loss of funds from a bank
account pale in contrast to the grief faced by those who have had traffic back traced
that included Child Porn, interstate prostitution, Presidential death threats, International
terrorist activity to name a few.

Wholly irrelevant and immaterial to the OP's issue.

All the above begs the question why you would "allow" an obviously untrusted individual access to your personal network.

Not only does this assume facts not in evidence, but is rebutted by the OP's statement re. such access being allowed.

If the individual in question has physical access to any of your hardware,
you have deeper problems than a forum can resolve.

Again, irrelevant, as OP states access in question is wireless

A virus/malware scan on all computers is recommended.

Why? What evidence is there to suggest that this is yet an issue?

[Rats]

Guilty as charged.
My apology to all for a reply based on speculation, conjecture, and fantasy.
A reply deeply offensive on so many levels; not the least of which is the improper
use of the term "begs the question" instead of "raises the question".

Drive By Postings are always fun.
Thoughts of Santa Clause, Elves, and Impenetrable Security made this one especially
attractive to me.

Even if exhaustive details (likely to be forthcoming ?) were provided by the OP,
there could still exist "any number of way possible scenarios".

The only "evidence" of anything I pick up from the OP is a general unease, or emotional
discomfort. People often feel better after running a virus/malware scan, perhaps even
finding & removing a harmless but annoying adware trojan.
Does nothing to improve security but may make some folks feel better. [insert smile icon here]

Happy New Year

[deepsand]

I concur re. the lack of substance to the OP's complaint; and, from experience, I also think it unlikely that he will return with anything definitive.

Queries such as this typically accomplish no more than to attract flies; which is why, once it has been requested that the OP amplify, clarify and/or elaborate, further posting is actively discouraged. Those who continue to pile on for post count - not implying that this is here the case - see their posts vanish.

[deepsand]

Well, there are lots of solutions:
1) connecting to your router via your browser, by inputting something called a Gateway IP Address
2) enabling encryption on your access point
3) Seting the router access password

etc etc..

Not only have you needlessly resurrected a dead thread, you've offered nothing but vague and incomplete speculations where the OP has failed to provide necessary information sufficient for determining his needs.

Before prescribing, diagnose.