How do I encrypt my (Linksys) home wifi system?

Answer 1

From the Main configuration page click on WIreless then Wireless Security Select WPA Personal and set an encryption key.

Answer 2

Linksys routers normally use the same procedure to encrypt data. Some people install the software that came with the router itself which is a step by step process and it would walk you through till you get to the wireless encryption screen where you are prompted to create one if you wanted.
If for any reason you dont have the CD which is mostly 80% of the case for people. Find out what is your default gateway address (meaning your router's IP address). This is normally 192.168.0.1.. Open internet explorer and type that number in the browser..you dont need to type http:// or www. Just type in the numbers separated by periods. If this is the correct IP for your router you will get prompted with a username and password form. The default username and password should be:
Username: Admin
Password: Admin
If the above IP address doesnt work then press Start, Click on Run, type "cmd" and press enter. When you get to the DOS screen (black screen with white writings), type "ipconfig". This might sound ridiculous but please dont type the quotation marks with the words.. After typing ipconfig, you will get a list that should include Default Gateway address.. write that down and then type it in your browser and proceed with inputting your username and password when prompted. After getting to the setup screen in your router, Look for a the wireless tab and then look for the security or sometimes labelled wireless security link. In that page you should be able to set your wireless encryption and please make sure you remember the paraphrase or the encryption code or else you would have to reset your router and do it all over again.
I know you are probably asking should you get WEP or WPA. If you are a home user then using WEP preferably 128bit works fine. Hackers never really home users unless you have something really worth trying to crack the encryption for. Then in that case you might want to switch to WPA which is more robust and dynamic rather than WEP which is static and has been proven vulnerable. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

It should have come with instructions. You need to pull up the admin screen via your web broswer and set the key.