Okat heres my big idea. what i'm going to do is get broadband. Link the broadband up to my computer at home. Then using bluetooth technology link my laptop up to my PC as a network. This way I could share the internet over a wireless connection.

Could anyone please explain how I would go about setting up my PC and laptop to do this asuming I had all the equipment.

Chris

what OS are you using? if you are using windows XP check out http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...networking.asp

that and google...

Thanks.

Unless you are using some variant of unix, you will probably find that in the long run it is less trouble to buy a wireless router. Windows router programs and firewalls can be unstable in some configurations and depending on your system speed can be a real drain. I don't trust wireless encryption but my router cost only $20 more than the switch that's built into it. Lots of features too.

In addition, bluetooth can be rather inadequate. You would probably get much more enjoyment out of 802.11b (WiFi) or 802.11g (better than 802.11b).

[This message has been edited by ssokolow (edited 06-15-2003).]

A wireless router is a much better idea than Bluetooth.



However, allow me to warn you: learn how to secure a wifi network. Businesses who run weak-ass security over networks are my best customers (I'm a consultant), because I can show them how stinking easy it is to break into their networks.



Make sure you disable SSID broadcasting. Use 128-bit encryption. If the router allows it, disable remote administration (meaning from the internet). Use MAC address filtering. And finally, if you can manage to figure it out, the most important thing to use is VPN over the network.



If you do that, then your network will be secure enough that wifi-hackers won't bother trying, and will go find the idiot who runs their Linksys network with no WEP and all defaults (yes, it happens... a lot). Also, having the NAT inside the router between you and the intarweb is always a good idea.

WEP isn't secure anyways.

Yeah, but if you're using 128-bit WEP on a network, you stand less of a chance of someone actually wanting to take the time to sniff and crack it on a home network. Consider it like The Club-- it doesn't acually stop criminals from being able to steal your car, but it's usually just inconvenient enough to make it not worth the time.



For businesses, though: VPN, all the way.

IF you do decide to use a windows machine for a router, you should consider buying a copy of PGP with PGPNet. It provides public-key/private-key encryption up to 4096-bits between machines and can be set to refuse unrecognized non-encrypted connections.

buying? I thought PGP had tons of free implementations.

The only way to be secure is a cat-5(I think) cable plugged into a router and to your computers. Its not wireless, but its secure...(Plus, arnt lotsa cables sexy?)