I am using a Linksys wireless router. How do I prevent other wireless users from using my wireless network?

Question

How do I have a password or sth like that to prevent other people from sharing my wirelsss network? Other unauthorised users are slowing my internet speed!

Answer 1

Go here for some hints and tips

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/wireless.mspx

Answer 2

If you can I recommend plugging a computer to the router to begin with - once you've saved the router settings and you're doing this wireless... you'll be disconnected from the router page and if you didn't get the correct settings, will need to start over again.

Access the Router
1.Go to your desktop and double click on Internet Explorer (Located on the Start Menu in Windows XP)
2.When "Internet Explorer" opens type the routers IP address into the "Address" bar and hit the [Enter] key (The Wireless routers default IP address is http://192.168.1.1)
3.The "Enter Network Password" window will appear.
4.Skip user name and type in your password (admin is the default password), and click OK
5.Go to Wireless tab.

I suggest changing the Routers SSID or Wireless Network name so you can easily "see" your network (and some routers may also be using default "linksys")

From the “Basic Wireless Settings” sub tab, look for the “SSID” section. After locating the “SSID” section, change it to something unique, for this example we are using linksys1234.

Once the SSID has been changed, click on the Wireless Security sub tab, which will load the “Wireless Security” section.
From the “Wireless Security” section, set the “Security Mode” to WEP.

After selecting WEP as the “Security Mode, make sure that the “Default Transmit Key” is set to the 1 option.
Set “WEP Encryption” to the 64 bits 10 hex digits option.
Under the “Key 1” section, input a 10 digit number that is easy to remember, but secure.

Security TIP: Using a home phone number probably isn’t a good idea, as your neighbors might know a home phone number,
using a work phone number would be more secure. To increase security even further, transpose the Area Code and the Prefix.

After setting up the key, make sure to write it down on a piece of paper for further reference. After writing down the WEP Key, click on the Save Settings button, then the Continue button if prompted.

Use that Key on all your wireless computers.

Another type of wireless security is Mac Filtering - a bit tricky (you'd need to keep adding mac address each time you allow a wireless computer onto your network.)

TRy these steps to set up wireless MAC Address Filtering.

1.Go to Wireless Mac Filter sub tab. When the “Wireless MAC Filter” screen appears, set the “Wireless MAC Filter” option to Enable.
2.The page will refresh, then choose the Permit only option.
3.Now, click on the Edit MAC Filter List button to add the MAC Addresses of Authorized users.
4.After the MAC Address(es) have been input into the “MAC Address Filter List”, please click on the Save Settings button at the bottom of the window, then close the “MAC Address Filter List” window.
5.Once the “Wireless MAC Filter” window appears after closing the “MAC Address Filter List” window, click on the Save Settings button, then the Continue button if prompted.

If you have an option for WPA or WPA-2, you can select to use that instead of WEP, but you need to make sure your wireless adapter/s are capable of using it.

I recommend keeping this simple... use WEP. Once you're comfortable and braver in handling your network, you can try Mac filtering and WPA.

Answer 3

Holy cow, dimmy was the only one to give anything usefull..
Basic setup has 3 areas for security.. Any security settings in the Router have to match up in the Wireless card settings.

1) SSID broadcast = this is your wireless rotuers "name"
Its either (on) or (off)
The wireless card has to know the SSID to log into the wireless router. If its not broadcasted its harder to get on it but it is also sometimes harder to get the wireless card setup. (sometimes)
You can also add a password here but thats nearly pointless ;)

2) WEP (encryption) This encodes the traffic from your computer to the router and if it doesnt have the same "Key" then it wont talk to it.
Turn this on and it can generate random or you can set something.. just make sure that you have the same Key in your wireless card settings.

3) MAC filter (the most secure)
Every network card has a unique ID from the manufacture. You can set your router to ONLY talk to approved network cards by listing the ID in an allowed list for the mac filter. Linksys has a feature in the router to show you what mac ID's are currently talking to the router so you can just put a check in the box to allow it vs having to type it in manually.

If you dont know what your MAC addy is Start>Run> CMD
ipconfig /all
you are looking for
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 0E-14-03-C1-A1-AE (<<
Hopefully that helps out some.

Answer 4

You did not specify which model of router you are using but most of the current Linksys routers have MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering functions.

Each of your Ethernet devices e.g. wireless adapter, Ethernet card etc. has a unique MAC address assigned to it. By turning on MAC filtering and registering your device(s) MAC address with the router, you restrict connections to the router to those devices which are registered. Non-registered devices might still be able to see your router's SSID but will not be able to connect to it.

Your device's MAC address is usually found at the back or bottom of the case where the serial numbers are located.

To prevent your SSID from being seen, turn off the broadcasting function on the router. What that will do is when a user searches for networks, your network's SSID will not show up. However, not every router have this function so you will need to check your router.

Answer 5

If you are in an area of wireless that people can sit outside your home, using your service, there is nothing that can be done to prevent this situation, unless you physically go out and remove them from the premises. Call your local provider, explaining the situation to them and perhaps you can block others by having a password, only you know.

Answer 6

"Piggybacking" does not reduce your bandwidth. I doubt that your bandwidth problems will be improved by password protecting your router.

When other people piggyback on your wireless connection, it just adds to the bandwidth - and since you pay a flat fee, the only ones taking a loss from people piggybacking are the internet service companies.

Answer 7

Read your manual about setting up WEP security. Also, turn off broadcasting, that way they wont even see it. You can even go as far as setting up MAC filtering which will only allow certain mAC address to use the connection.

Answer 8

You should be able to log into you router and secure it with a password if you go to Linksys.com they should have instructions on how to do it.

Answer 9

turn on WAP security. This will require users to use a password to access the network.

Answer 10

when you configure it; supply a passphrase --- also use 128 bit encryption not the 64 bit... it'll prompt you each time you log in! if others try to crash your network, they'll need the passphrase or they won't get on!