How do I secure my wireless network connection?

Answer 1

Your wireles router might have a security wizard that take you through all the settings. Be sure to write down all the names and numbers it has you enter, you'll need them to set up your pc to match.

Here's a list I've been working on for a while. Some of it is quite techy, sorry.

Wireless Security:

Change Default Password
Routers ship with simple default passwords like ‘admin’. Change the default password to something more difficult. Longer passwords that use a combination of letters and numbers are best. IF YOU DON'T CHAGE IT, someone can hijack your router.

Change Router IP Address
Most routers ship with a default IP address such as 192.168.1.1
Change the IP to something like 193.169.2.120 (each number less than 256). This with slow down intruders casually scanning the network.

SSID
The SSID is the name of your wireless network, choose a complex name up to 32 characters long. Set all your computers on the network to use the same name.

Then disable the broadcast of the SSID. Most wireless routers have a check box in the control panel for disabling the broadcast of the SSID. Broadcasting the SSID allows computers to easily find your network, so turn it off.

DHCP Server
One great security measure is to disable the DHCP server. This will require that all computers that are authorized to connect to the network be configured manually, but it will prevent unauthorized computers from obtaining an IP address automatically and jumping onto your network.

Security
Set up WPA, or “Wi-Fi Protected Access,” it’s an improvement over WEP. All your pc’s must use the same settings.

Router Position
Wireless routers have a range of up to a few hundred feet in open space. When installed inside a home, this range decreases greatly due to walls, but the signal may still be strong enough to carry outside or to the next apartment. So put the router as close to the center of the house as possible.

hope this helps!

Answer 2

many of the above posts supply stable advice. additionally observe, that when you place up the router wisely, and characteristic the 1st laptop configured to attain connection (with the router & cyber web), those settings could be migrated to the different contraptions by a USB, and for this reason shop countless frustration. (provided they are all domicile windows machines) For Vista/win 7 circulate to regulate Panel> community & cyber web> take care of instantaneous networks> Connection tab: close to backside is hyperlink to 'reproduction this community...' XP might have the same Wizard to end this job. look in Networking area.