Securing Wireless Internet?

Question

My neighbor helped me set up my wireless internet, she knows my passwords and set it up with a hexadecimal code. I think she is using my internet now. What do I need to change to be sure that she can't use my internet? Please be descriptive..

Answer 1

An easy way to tell is to check your router....

On your computer,

Click Start, run
Type in cmd, for windows 2000 and XP, or command for windows 9x.

When the black window comes up, type in ipconfig -all for 2000/xp or winipcfg find your DEFAULT GATEWAY ADDRESS and write it down. It is most likely 192.168.1.1.
Close out all windows and open up internet explorer. type in your default gateway address.

The webpage opens the configuration page for your router. login with the password you set. If you haven't set one, try blank username and admin as password. (Most new routers use this..)
or check the documentation for it. If you can't find it, there is a small hole on the back to the router, use a pen/paper clip to depress the button inside and this will reset your router back to defaults.... The lights will start flashing on reset.

Once inside the configuration pages, click on the security tab and change your sside key. This is what you have set to secure your router. Change to what ever your like, but make sure that it is longer than 8 digits.... once this is set, your all good.

If you did reset the router, on the DHCP tab, enable dhcp and give iit a start and end addresss . ... ie

start 192.168.1.5
end 192.168.1.200

What is does is when you connect to the router, it will give you one of these address and allows you to go to the internet.

Finally, make sure to unplug your router and restart it. For is anyone is connected to it while your changing, they will remain connect even though you changed the key. By restarting it, you kick them off and they will not be able to reconnect.

Answer 2

The "code" you set up sounds like a WEP key. Changing that key would stop an intruder, at least for a period. WEP however is broken, and there are tools out there to help crack WEP keys in a now very reasonable amount of time.

The other thing to do, would be to change the SID, and turn off broadcasting. This would stop someone like your neighbor from jumping on your wifi, if she wasn't sophisticated.

Most routers now come with WPA which is secure

The first thing to do is get onto your routers admin and see if there are other people connected. Since you really don't understand how these things work, or how to configure them, the worse case scenario is that you could lock yourself out of your own network. I've seen that happen many times to friends.

The other thing I have to say, is that it sounds kind of paranoid of you to be assuming that your neighbor, who it seems did you a favor by setting up your wifi netowk, would be stealing bandwidth from your. Anything is possible, but usually that type of person, already has their own broadband, and wouldn't need to be stealing yours.

Start out by learning about your router, and monitoring it for a while, especially when you suspect someone is on it.

Answer 3

replace your settings on your router to WEP and upload a password. some human beings DO recognize what WEP skill and for the answer below me------inspite of. you do not could call all of us. you've a call to go away it open, WPA or WEP. in case you do not opt for the acquaintances utilizing it, bypass into the putting of the router from the computing device it really is hooked to and modify it. It supplies warnings that you're leaving the relationship open once you position in it. replace the open connection settings to WPA or WEP. Password safeguard it and then no man or woman yet you will get on the relationship. if you're aggravating about connecting your self out of your computing device, then do not. you've the password. And in case you do not have a computing device and the laptop is the only comp, why have a router?

Answer 4

You are using either wep or wpa security. Open the router config pages and find the encryption options. Enter a new encryption key and write it down, then save. Open the wireless network client, choose the proper profile, and change the encryption key to the same as you wrote down.

Answer 5

That sux that she would be stealing your service. I recently secured my service especially after I put a range extender on it and found my bandwidth even lower than before. Once I secured it, it went right back up to where it was before. It's one thing to share and do it knowingly, but for someone to steal...bad neighbor!

Answer 6

You can always change your password.

If you are using Linksys wireless router go here,

https://www.embarq.com/2788/User_Guides/linksysgwep.pdf#search=%22%22Linksys%20WEP%22%22

Have fun but be safe!