Wireless Network security

[brianmaslen]

Hi all, can anyone advise me how to setup a basic level of security on my Belkin Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Router please? I would like to add a simple password or login so that I can ensure my neighbours do not use my broadband connection but keep it easy enough that our family can access without any hassle? Quite happy to enter the "password" at first time of login but dont realy want to do this everytime we start an individual laptop if that makes sense? Also want to do the same at my daughter's Uni digs as they found 14 different unauthorised people in the area using their network over a short period! Thanks all.

 

[ncpierce]

As a basic step you could limit the MAC addresses of the items that can access the router. I use this at home and have just set it up for my parents.

They other way is to stop broadcasting the name of the network and set up some other form of security.

I used to used WEP with a single PC attached to the wireless network but now with four/five devices accessing the router wirelessly I just limit access to know MAC addresses.

 

[unhinged]

If you've got the option of WPA then use that as it's harder to crack and easy to use. You set the password on the wireless router and when your laptop/pc/pda etc connects you need to supply the password, usually just the first time they connect. It's designed to be fairly simple to use so you shouldn't have to do much other than enter the passphrase in the router setup and when you connect. If WPA's not an option then you can use WEP (looks the same from the outside) but you can beat WEP quite quickly if you have the tools.

As ncpierce has already mentioned you can stop any communication with any devices other than those you want by filtering MAC addresses but it's not fool proof as some network cards allow you to change their MAC addresses. Also, if this is all you use (i.e. no WEP or WPA), all your traffic can be "snooped" so even though they won't be able to use your network, they'll be able to see e-mails, web sites you're looking at etc if they're not encrypted. Worth baring in mind.

 

[brianmaslen]

Thanks guys, that would seem to do the trick, now all i have to do is work out how? The preferred option would be as suggested by "unhinged", but how do I go about doing this, how do I get access to the setup etc?

 

[terayon]

you read the instruction manual......if will tell you how to get admin rights to the router

 

[unhinged]

Thanks guys, that would seem to do the trick, now all i have to do is work out how? The preferred option would be as suggested by "unhinged", but how do I go about doing this, how do I get access to the setup etc?

If this (http://belkin.httpsvc.vitalstreamcd...m_com/support/dl/p74559-b_f5d7230-4v7_man.pdf) is the manual for your router then page 55 is your friend. The pre-shared key option is what you're after.

 

[cookie]

if you can't be arsed looking for the manual, as a start, i'd try...

username: admin

password: admin

IIRC some routers default to username & password of isp account once entered too.

 

[brianmaslen]

you read the instruction manual......if will tell you how to get admin rights to the router

Yes very droll, if I had the manual I would have started there first of course. Anyway thanks for alll your help folks, off to try now...knowing my luck i'll probably never get back on line now! And to think I work as a Partner Manager selling Catia design software for Dassault Systemes.

 

[unhinged]

According to the user manual I posted a link to, the unit ships with no password so you can just click login whilst leaving it blank.

 

[Silver Rat]

Hi chaps, I need help!!

I have the same problem, we have had a wireless internet connection for a couple of years now and just kinda remembered that I have not set up any security!! My router is a Netgear DG834G.

I have just looked up the manual and I just got confused!! I also looked at the connection settings on the computer and am not sure whether to change the SECURITY and ENCRYPTION settings and what to set them too!!

Should the security be set to shared, WPA - personal, enterprise or what??

Should the encryption be set to none or WEP??

My fear is that I change something and won’t get back in to change it. Is this a simple operation?

We have two laptops, a wii and one hard wired computer. When set up, do you have to type in a password everytime you connect?

I did try a WPA personal setting but when it asked for a security key, I typed in a password but that was rejected as it needs to be 5 or 13 letters???? I presume by that I get this key from elsewhere??

K

 

[Deleted account 231211001]

Hi chaps, I need help!!



I did try a WPA personal setting but when it asked for a security key, I typed in a password but that was rejected as it needs to be 5 or 13 letters???? I presume by that I get this key from elsewhere??

K

Have a shuftie underneath the router. There should be a label with the 13 digit key on it

 

[Silver Rat]

Thanks for that, I looked underneath and there is a 13 digit serial no and a 12 digit MAC number???

Which one??

Do I select shared, or WPA-personal or WPA-enterprise?

K

 

[john1215]

Thanks guys, that would seem to do the trick, now all i have to do is work out how? The preferred option would be as suggested by "unhinged", but how do I go about doing this, how do I get access to the setup etc?

Open a browser window and in the address bar type 192.168.0.1. Press the ENTER/RETURN key and you should find your router set up facility at this address.

Home networks (wireless included) use this method to identify individual items connected to the network. On your PC, click the START button on the desktop, mouse over Programs, then Accessories and click on the program called Command Prompt at the cursor type ipconfig /allthen press RETURN, this will give you a list of the ipaddresses of any/all computers etc connected to your network 192.168.0.1. should be the address of your default gateway and your router.

If you have other computers accessing your router you may see 192.168.0.2....3.....4 each one will have its own address.

You should be asked for a username and password. If you have set one then as suggested try admin admin in both fields.

You should then see some kind of menu system perhaps or a number of separte TABS, one of which may be SECURITY or similar, this is the place to start but I would recommend searching on the internet in GOOGLE perhaps using the name/number of your router as there may well be a downloadable user guide available or some information on security.

Going back to the Command Prompt window, to close it type Exit at the cursor then press RETURN on your keyboard