>I was attempting to fix my son's computer and when looking at the
>network config, I noticed that there was a strange computer hooked up
>to our wireless home network:  PimpDad (D10kzz71)
>
>What has happened here?  We four computers in our house and none are
>named "PimpDad."
>
>FYI:
>
>Wireless netgear Router, Firmware Version 4.04 Jan 15 2004
>All computers are assigned automatically.
>I also have a Tivo hooked up to my home network.
>
>This computer is somehow connected via my son's computer.  When I
>rebooted his computer, and checked the the attached devices, this
>computer was no longer connected, but still showed up as a computer in
>the workgroup.  Should I just change each computer's workgroup? My son
>plays World of Warcraft.  Could somehow somebody have accessed our home
>network via this game and was using our IP/network?
>
>How can I make our home wireless network more secure?

>>>I was attempting to fix my son's computer and when looking at the
>>>network config, I noticed that there was a strange computer hooked up
>>>to our wireless home network:  PimpDad (D10kzz71)
>>>
>>>What has happened here?  We four computers in our house and none are
>>>named "PimpDad."
>>>
>>>FYI:
>>>
>>>Wireless netgear Router, Firmware Version 4.04 Jan 15 2004
>>>All computers are assigned automatically.
>>>I also have a Tivo hooked up to my home network.
>>>
>>>This computer is somehow connected via my son's computer.  When I
>>>rebooted his computer, and checked the the attached devices, this
>>>computer was no longer connected, but still showed up as a computer in
>>>the workgroup.  Should I just change each computer's workgroup? My son
>>>plays World of Warcraft.  Could somehow somebody have accessed our home
>>>network via this game and was using our IP/network?
>>>
>>>How can I make our home wireless network more secure?
>>
>>Changing workgroups won't help.  A computer in any workgroup can
>>access a computer in any workgroup.
>>
>>To prevent outsiders from connecting to your wireless network, enable
>>the highest level of encryption that your wireless networking
>>equipment supports.  From highest to lowest: WPA2, WPA, WEP.
>>
>>How do you know that the other computer connected via your son's
>>computer? 

>When I rebooted my son's computer, it disconnected the PimpDad computer
>from the network.

>[snip]
>There's the problem: your wireless network isn't encrypted, so anyone
>can connect (and someone already has connected) to it.
>
>If all of your wireless networking equipment supports it, use WPA-PSK.
>Otherwise, use 128-bit WEP.
>
>>Also, each user is assigned an IP Addy automatically.  Should I give
>>them static address?
>
>There would be no benefit to a static address.
>
>>P.S.  I just checked attached devices and the computer is attached
>>again!  How do I block this computer?
>
>By enabling the highest level of wireless encryption that your
>wireless networking equipment supports.
>
>Thanks.  We've enabled WPA-PSK.  Restarted my laptop and saw that I had
>to enter the passkey to log onto the wireless network.  Thanks for your
>help.

> I was attempting to fix my son's computer and when looking at the
> network config, I noticed that there was a strange computer hooked up
> to our wireless home network:  PimpDad (D10kzz71)
>
> What has happened here?  We four computers in our house and none are
> named "PimpDad."
>
> FYI:
>
> Wireless netgear Router, Firmware Version 4.04 Jan 15 2004
> All computers are assigned automatically.
> I also have a Tivo hooked up to my home network.
>
> This computer is somehow connected via my son's computer.  When I
> rebooted his computer, and checked the the attached devices, this
> computer was no longer connected, but still showed up as a computer in
> the workgroup.  Should I just change each computer's workgroup? My son
> plays World of Warcraft.  Could somehow somebody have accessed our
> home network via this game and was using our IP/network?
>
> How can I make our home wireless network more secure?