How do I set up a wireless network that has a security code on it?

Question

At home we have 4-5 computers... we would like to set up a wireless network so that everyone cannot get on our internet connection. We already have a router, and can all get online, but we don't have a code on it. How do we put a code on it?

The main reason why we want this is because my neighbourhood is a university student haven... and so.. right about now when they start coming in, they steal or internet connection via our router- thus making it extremely hard for us to get online to our own internet connection. We have the belkin system.

Answer 1

The manual or the installation CD probably tell you how to do this, but if you don't have them, we'll do it the hard way.

Find a computer that is WIRED to the roouter, not connected by wireless. From a browser, type the address

http://192.168.A.B,where A and B are numbers, typically 0, 1 or 2.

So there are only 9 combinations to try. One of them will give you a little login menu. This is where the manual would really help. On many routers, the default account is "admin" and the default password is "admin". If it's not that, you have to guess it, or find a manual.

Once you are in, look for a heading on Wireless security.

There are two popular methods, and your router may allow both.
They are encryption, which comes in various flavors, and MAC address filtering, which only lets certain computers join the network.

If you want to use encryption, there are two main choices, WEP, and WPA. Many people wil tell you that WEP is worthless, but it's better than nothing. Check your wireless computers and see if their wireless interfaces support WPA. If even one of them doesn't, you can't use WPA,and will use WEP. The encrytption will allow/require a certain number of bits. More is better.

If your router lets you use a passphrase, use one, and write it down! If you just need a big random string, over at GRC they have some dandy ones, just chop off what you need, and write it down.

You are going to have to give the same passphrase or random string to each of the wireless devices.

If you are using both encryption and MAC address filtering, get your encryption working first. It is non-trivial to set up a number of computers at the same time.

If you want to use MAC address filtering, run this command on each wireless machine from the command prompt (DOS Window)

ipconfig /all

Buried in there will the the MAC or Physical address, 6 groups of 2 hexadecimal digits each. Make sure you are looking at the address of the wireless interface, a computer may have both wired and wireless interfaces. The MAC address goes into a table inside the router, There is usually an option to allow only the addresses that are in the table. Once you have all the MAC addresses in the table, you should be all set. Save it.

Now if a stranger wants to connect to your router, he or she must not only break your encryption key, but they must spoof a MAC address that matches one on your table.

No security setup is unbreakable, of course. but you are not trying to keep out the NSA. If you make it hard enough, the network thieves will go pick on someone else's router.

Answer 2

Pop in the set up disc for the router and find the advanced settings option. You should be able to activate your security from there. I have to be on line to access all of the function but the disc and set up manuals have all the instructions. If you are savy enough to get the system working it should be no trouble to do this.

Answer 3

read the instructions. It depends on the brand and model. Now that being said. Most home equipment even with a code (WPA or WPA-PSK, WEP is useless) are still not completely secure. But to secure a home environment you need to spend money on an enterprise solution ( big bucks). But you should be okay using the home security available but I make no grantees

Answer 4

connect to the ip of the router, it's usually like 192.168.0.01 or something like that. and you can set up the settings from there

Answer 5

Not sure, but my hubby might know. He's a computer geek. I'll send him your question.