How to hack into a wireless network?

I was fixing a friends PC yesterday. More specificlly his network was having problems. Anyway, while i was waiting for his PC to boot, i frired up my laptop.

Upon doing so i noticed i gained access to his wireless network without any authentication at all! I advised him of this, but he shrugged it off. He said, "there's nobody around here that would hack in".

OK! I was wondering.

What could someone do if they got onto an unsecured network like his? Could you see his PC contents? What bad things could be done?

I am a bit worried because he keeps alot of financial info on his PC.

Thanks.

Note: He doesn't have anything shared. Both his home PCs are using XP Pro.

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Originally Posted by Thunderwind

I was fixing a friends PC yesterday. More specificlly his network was having problems. Anyway, while i was waiting for his PC to boot, i frired up my laptop.

Upon doing so i noticed i gained access to his wireless network without any authentication at all! I advised him of this, but he shrugged it off. He said, "there's nobody around here that would hack in".

OK! I was wondering.

What could someone do if they got onto an unsecured network like his? Could you see his PC contents? What bad things could be done?

I am a bit worried because he keeps alot of financial info on his PC.

Thanks.

Note: He doesn't have anything shared. Both his home PCs are using XP Pro.

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in essence, anyone who connects to the wireless lan can do to his computer what someone from the internet could do if his PC was connected directly to the internet, and then some (smb sharing would be accessible this way.. it's not over the net).

What I usualy tell people "You are responsible for what happens on YOUR connection, if someone breaks into an online bank from your wireless, YOU are responsible."

Usualy that's enough to get people to secure the network.

Yeah, letting 'em know that it's their *** in the sling usually lights a fire under them.

Among the other hazards of unsecured wireless networks, I point out that a nearby hacker could be downloading kiddie porn using their connection and the cops would be knocking on THEIR door. That usually gets the point across.