We have cable internet service connected to a Linksys G broadband wireless router 2.4 open. How do you password encrypt this for security?
You can change the security settings on the router by accessing the IP address for the router (http://192.168.1.1/). From there you’ll get the menu and then you can give your wireless network its own name and password.
There are additional security settings, I recommend you do some quick looks at the Linksys site.
One feature is to turn off the transmission of your network’s name. Meaning, it won’t be yelling “hey everyone, here I am, come try and connect to me”. This makes it somewhat more secure and harder to hack. So at least novices won’t be able to.
One feature is to turn off the transmission of your network’s name. Meaning, it won’t be yelling “hey everyone, here I am, come try and connect to me”. This makes it somewhat more secure and harder to hack. So at least novices won’t be able to.
It’s a nice idea but completely useless. It takes seconds with a bit of free software to be able to spot a “hidden” broadcast so you are only hiding it from the people who aren’t able to get in anyway.
One practical way of providing additional security is to turn off DHCP and allocate specific IP addresses to specific MAC addresses.
You’re correct. That’s what I do, but based on his question/s I was starting with the super basics.
I was going to note in my post above, most of the very simple basics will cover 95-99% of the people who want to get into your network. But, that 1%, that’s bad news. So using the minimum security is helpful for the vast vast majority of people.
OK, I still don’t have it right. I changed the password on that log in screen that comes up but that only seems to block access the router settings. The network still shows up as open. what didn’t I do?
Maybe more than you wanted to read, but it is instructive and covers everything you would want for your home wireless network. You probably don’t NEED to cover all of the steps presented, but I would suggest looking into enabling WEP encryption and MAC filtering.
When we moved into our new house, I noticed my 13 year old daughter was on the net with her laptop. I had not yet set up our wireless router, so I asked her how she was able to get online. She said that she found 4 of our neighboors unsecured wi-fi’s and was using one of their signals. Until I found out about it, of course.
I’m doing this without looking at the provided setup instructions that come with the router, or online, so if I get something wrong I apologize. I am looking at an in use Linksys router. But the version might be old enough to mean that the screens are different slightly.
You had the correct first step, otherwise people can change your settings. Always use a good password, using special characters (#$%*) and numbers is recommended. No words. Definitely not your last name, your address, etc.
You will want to assign a new SSID (default us “linksys” I believe). “Allow “Broadcast” SSID to associate?” is the question to answer “no” to if you don’t want people to readily see the network (see above how this will only counter novices, still a good first step).
You’ll want to answer “Yes” to WEP. Then click on the key setting.
Now, I’ll note, I’ve had issues with this in the past. Typically you use a 64 bit key (should be a drop down menu). You put in a password in the “passphrase” area, click “Generate” and it will give you 4 Keys. You pick whichever one you like, then select that item in the drop down menu. I have no clue if it matters what you pick.
WRITE the password down! If you don’t write it down, put it in a Word or Notepad document to save. Typically it is HORRIBLE security protocol to ever write a password down, but at least do so for the setup process. Plus, hopefully no one is breaking into your house in order to hack your network (overkill for the mission), so having it written down in a safe/controlled place should be decent.
Everyone you want to access your network will need this passcode.
We will skip any advanced security steps at this point. You may want to use them, and others can assist in this area, but I won’t go that route yet.
Now, when you go to connect to your network, use whatever program you usually use. I use the standard Windows XP wireless program. It should tell you that there are nextworks available, or just click to view the networks. Find your newly named network (please don’t use your last name or personally identifying information, bad idea in general). Just make sure it’s there.
Now you will want to go to the advanced settings (usually you can click “Change advanced settings”). You should be able to click to the “Wireless Networks” tab in the menu. From here you will want to click “Add”. Put in the name of your fancy new network, the authentication at this point should still be open, but you will want to choose the “WEP” encryption.
Now here’s where I may be screwing this up. I always UN-click “The network key is provided for me”. Then I input that god awful password we generated and saved earlier (if you have it in a Word or Notepad document, you can copy/paste). You’ll have to input it a second time.
How where things go awry for me is that I always click ok, things SHOULD be setup ok, and then I won’t be able to connect to the network. I’ll go BACK into the setup for my network, RE-paste my password, and then click ok and it works.
If all this fails, and you can’t access your internet, just hit the RESET button on the router. You default back to the no security and you can access your unsecured network.
Someone smarter than me please reply to this thread. I will note that there is usually good setup info provided, which you should follow.
Ditto.
Great link, good info.
The MAC filtering was mentioned by Davet above, and it is good because it spefically limits network access to the “SSN” (if you will) of specific computers. I’m sure these can be spoofed, but it requires more effort. Most hackers, upon seeing this, will move on because for ever 1 person who uses this on their network, there are 55 who don’t use passwords, and 44 who use passwords but no MAC filtering.
Also, if you use Gmail, never ever just go to HTTP://www.gmail.com, always go to httpS://www.gmail.com. It makes sure your emails are actually sent over SSL, whereas the regular Gmail just secures your login/pword. This is important if you’re sending data you wouldn’t want “me” to have.
Dude I fouled something up bad. I’ve been trying to rescue it for 2 hours. Thank goodness you mentioned that reset thing so at least I got rid of the junk I did to the router. I can see the wireless icon on the bottom now and it seems to be back to normal. But I have something whack on my settings as I cannot connect. I did a system restore to see if that would take it back but nothing. I went through all the settings and I don’t see anything obvious. (I’m using my verizon air card now). Any ideas what the missing link may be at this point. When I get this running again I’ll definitely hire someone with skills or take my chances with hackers.
At this point I’d recommend resetting the router and following the Linksys directions that came with the router word for word. I’m sure I’ve led you astray at some point.
I’m intrigued though: You weren’t able to locate ANY wireless networks as the wireless icon disappeared? If that happens again, go to “Start >> Settings >> Network Connections” (this assumes you’re using the classic view in Windows XP). At least that way you should be able to view what networks are available.
Often I’ve found with XP and the Windows Wireless menu that I have to use the “Repair” option a bit. This usually is needed when I connect to a new wireless network after after putting my computer in Standby mode.
Futzing with the router itself shouldn’t cause anything to change on your computer though, so that’s weird.
I’m not sure what happened. I made it invisible to through that allow broadcast SSID thing and then my computer couldn’t find it. Without that reset buttin suggestion I would have been in a world of hurt. I shouldn’t have tackled this manuver as I was over my head. Anyway my son started folling with it and powered down the router and cable modem, powered it back up and they found each other. So we are operational again. Thanks for you assistance.
Often I’ve found with XP and the Windows Wireless menu that I have to use the “Repair” option a bit. This usually is needed when I connect to a new wireless network after after putting my computer in Standby mode.
Repair is needed to dump the old ip address obtained via dhcp, and pull the new one. You can replicate this is a dos window by doing ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew. A lot of public networks hand out ip addresses with goofy expire times, like 7 days down the road. Then, you go somewhere else and reboot your pc and it thinks it still has a valid address, when the fact is, you’re caching the one from the previous network, and the new network has no idea what THAT is. So, repair dumps the old, pulls the new, problem solved. Now, really proactive public network guys (cough) will set an expire of like, say, 1 hour or less on their ip leases, causing the address to expire almost as soon as you leave. Then, the next place you go, it works fine. You can see how long the lease is to last by doing ipconfig /all from a dos window.