Question about Wireless Internet for my desktop...?

Question

I just got a new computer that has the wireless LAN already in it.. I bought a wireless router for it.. As I was trying to connect it last night I was having difficulty. I used the help CD that came with the Linksys router, but it never established a connection and acted like something was hooked up right.

I ended up using the internet connection wizard that popped up when I first turned the computer on. It connected right up. My question/concern is it says that it's not a secure connection. Is there anyway to secure my connection? Did I do something wrong??

Answer 1

Having a secure connection means that nobody can intercept and eavesdrop on the signals that go between your computer and your router.

In order for this to work, you have to enable it on your router. Go to the router's configuration program. Look for labels like encryption or WEP or WPA. You'll be asked to set a password and maybe restart your router. Then, the next time your computer tries to connect to the network, you'll be asked to enter that password.

Answer 2

Both the previous answers I read told you to set up either WEP or WPA security on your wireless network. WEP is very minimal security, and contains passwords that everyone knows, if they are trying to find a signal to "steal." I found that the best solution was WPA security, and for that, I needed the help of my router manufacturer. I don't know the brand you bought, but look at all your paperwork, there should be an 800 number for you to call for technical help. That's what you really need to get this hooked up right, and make it secure for your computer.

Answer 3

No, YOu didnt do anything wrong, you just forgot to enable Wireless security. You said Linksys router so I'll assume you meant the WRT54G series of routers. These support either WEP, WPA, or WPA2 encryption. WEP is by no means SECURE. I would suggest enabling WPA or WPA2 encryption. To do this you would simply LOGIN to your router. To do this you would open Internet Explorer and type in your Default Gateway address and then log in with the Linksys default username and password. To determine your default gateway, simply click Start>Run> type in cmd and press enter. this will bring up the command prompt. Once there type ipconfig. You will then see 3 numbers.. your IP address, Your subnet mask and your default gateway. It should be something like 192.168.?.1. In Internet Explorer type in the address bar...http://. Hit enter and then you will be presented with a log in screen. type admin for the username then hit enter, you should be sent to the router configuration page. If not try admin for both username and password or just for the password. Form here you can configure your routers wireless security.


If a person wanted in bad enough they could connect to your access point and with the default username and password access your router. To prevent this simply change the username and password on your router.

WEP keys can be broken in a matter of minutes. So they are not as secure as a really strong WPA key. WPA keys are still able to be broken but it is more secure than WEP.Use strong passphrases like Mi23Ck45. Lower case and uppercase letters with numbers and characters such as !@#$% slow down brute force hybrid attacks. So keep that in mind when securing your wireless network.

Note:: write down your passphrase that you created for your security you will be asked for it when you try to connect to the network. Remember not to throw this paper away though as dumpster divers could very well find it and then all you did was for nothing.

Answer 4

Read the Linksys manual, and use the web interface with a cable to go to wireless security and set encryption, then save your changes and try connecting again using the connection wizard, this time it should ask for the encryption key. You must do this for your own protection.

Answer 5

No, if your connection is not secure, you probably dont have encryption enabled.

All that means is that, other people in range of your signal (within 400 feet) who have laptops, can also connect to your internet signal. (Which really isnt so bad in general, unless you are downloading music and internets slow because someone else is using your signal).


To encrypt it, you need to set up WEP encryption in your router.

Answer 6

In order to secure your connection you need to configure some setting on your router, as well as on your PC. Your router manual should help you with setting up security.
The link will help you in configuring your PC end. Don't forget to substitute the values in the tutorial with the values assigned in your network

Answer 7

Side Note: Don't use WEP, unless you have to (i.e. for legacy devices)

WEP has been hacked in minutes, and is not as secure as WPA/WPA2 (google/yahoo search for "cafe latte" & wep if you want the details)

Answer 8

Holly, please look at your router documentation and then call the Linksys technical support. They are very very good and even have some great shortcuts to get you going quickly.

Go Cisco !!