Unless you set the modem or router to use strong encryption and strict user autentification, putting those on the window still is an open invitation to anyone wanting to highjack your connection and invade your local network.
The only case when this may be of use is IF you connect whirelessly to your service provider. In this case, you need to put the modem out of sight from anyone outside, well protected fromthe elements and somewho shielded from the street. It would be beter to find a window facing your ISP relay and place the modem accordingly, then use some whired connection to your computer if it's not in the same room.
Your wall are thick, and that's your problem... But, what about your floors? They may be MUCH thinner and more transparent to the radio waves. Just place your whireless modem/router in the basement. This is particularly appropriate if you have a WiFi LAN and a whired connection to your ISP. That way, most of the time, you only have to count the floor AND the signal is almost zero a few feet from your house as the basement's outer walls and ground will provide a very strong shielding.
Electro
November 2012