just installed a router. can someone tell me how to set up wep authentication?

Answer 1

First, if your router and wireless card support WPA-PSK use it instead of WEP.

If you're unable to use WPA-PSK:
1. Log in to your router.

2. Navigate to the configuration page

3. Choose an SSID (name) for your wireless network

4. Choose a 128bit WEP Key (Select any combination of characters: a thru f and 0 thru 9 - to a total of 26 characters)

5. Write down the SSID and WEP Key you created

6. SAVE your settings and Log-off of the router

7. Enter the SSID and WEP Key into each PC's wireless card configuration settings.

You're done!

Answer 2

The exact method varies from brand to brand. Read your router's docs for exact instructions.

One caution: Most routers have preset WEP keys in the default configuration. Those keys are well-known and are extremely easy to hack. Set your own private WEP key according to your router's documentation.

WPA is much more secure than WEP. Use it if it's an option on your router. If it isn't, see if there's a firmware upgrade that implements WPA.

Don't waste your time with MAC filtering. It's very easy to bypass and you can wind up being locked out of your network.

Answer 3

Don't use WEP. Anybody could crack it. Use WPA and TKIP. It is much more secure. I don't know which router you use, but it is fairly easy to do it on a Linksys router. You go to Wireless | Wireless Security. Then you have to give each PC the password to join the group.

Another thing that helps a lot is using MAC Addresses. This completely shuts off the wireless for anyone who hasn't got a registered MAC Address associated with his/her WiFi card.

Answer 4

bostonian is correct it varies brand by brand, so contact the manufacturer of your router. if your router supports it use WPA or WPA2 theat is a stronger and more secure method than wep security.

in general to set up wep and wpa/wpa2 you need to select a strong KEY (password) this needs to be as complicated and as long as possible to provide the most secure connection, then each device on your network will need to use the key/password to gain access to the LocalAreaNetwork (your home network) and WideAreaNetwork (internet).
you should also use MAC address filtering this adds another level of security to your network. add the MAC address of each authorised computer on your home network to the alloowed list. this blocks by default every other computer and device. thus ensuring your network is that littlebit more secure, allowing you to set up file shares on your lan that only authorised lan users can access.