Create a SECURE computer-to-computer network

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Jai Gill1 Author

Level 1

38 points

Create a SECURE computer-to-computer network

Hi

This Apple knowledge base article shows how to “Create a computer-to-computer network”:

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25186?viewlocale=en_AU&locale=en_AU

I want to do this BUT how do I ensure it is a SECURE computer-to-computer network?

This security feature was easy to set up in Mac OSX up until Mavericks as per this guidance:

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how-to-create-and-use-an-ad-hoc-network-o n-your-mac

Later versions of Mac OSX seem to have removed the security pop-up menu and the two password text boxes as shown in step 2 of the MacObserver guidance above.

Any thoughts?

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.1.1, My first ever iPhone!

Posted on Oct 6, 2017 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BobHarris

Level 9

56,915 points

Oct 7, 2017 7:23 PM in response to Jai Gill1

Take a travel router with you. Something like an Airport Express (or similar 3rd party travel router). Let is setup a local LAN with WPA2 encryption which is actually secure.

NOTE: The travel router does NOT need to be connected to the internet. It should then allow all the devices to talk to each other via the router.

Maybe something like

<Amazon.com: ASUS Multi-Mode Pocket Router (WL-330NUL): Computers & Accessories>

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Answer 2

BobHarris

Level 9

56,915 points

Oct 6, 2017 8:50 AM in response to Jai Gill1

Point of information, but WEP encryption can be cracked in less than a minute, so I'm not sure how secure that is.

Back-to-My-Mac (System Preferences -> iCloud) will setup secure Screen Sharing and file sharing between 2 Macs. It is NOT ad-hoc

Maybe if you describe what you want to do with this network you are creating, maybe someone can suggest another approach that gives you security, and perhaps much better than the tissue thin WEP encryption.

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,251 points

Oct 6, 2017 8:55 AM in response to Jai Gill1

When you get to the step in the screen shot, what happens if you click create?

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Answer 4

Jai Gill1 Author

Level 1

38 points

Oct 7, 2017 6:18 PM in response to BobHarris

Hi Bob

I use my MacBook Pro and my iPad in my consulting workshops for client leadership teams (up to three days in duration) held off-site in hotels and convention centres.

I do not need or use internet access during the workshops but I do my mobile data plan on both the iPad and iPhone to collect emails etc.

While I am happy to use a Bluetooth connection between the iPad and the MacBook for controlling my Keynote slides, I do need a wifi connection between the two devices so I may have a range of documents (nearly all PDFs) available on the iPad for reference during the workshop.

It was possible to do this prior to Mavericks but not now.

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Answer 5

Jai Gill1 Author

Level 1

38 points

Oct 7, 2017 6:20 PM in response to Eric Root

An unsecured network gets created as indicated by the warning that appears on my iPad when I connect to the network...

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