Wireless security?

Question

Can anyone help me figure out how to set my wireless network to private or secure? Some freeloader was caught right outside on our driveway using his laptop in the car...then caught again around the block! Please help ......

Answer 1

if you dont know how to set up wireless router manually i would recommend taking it to an expert, if you do know on the other hand set a password for your router, it should be 128 bit encryption. to do that you need to first be connected to your router, when your are connected ( either manually or wirelessly i doesnt matter ) click the start button and select the "run" it should be in the lower right hand corner, were it says open type in "cmd" without the apostrophes. when the black window pops up type in " ipconfig" without the apostrophes look for were it says "default gateway" write down the numbers (including the periods) that come after it ( ex. 167.121.1.1 ) open a web browser(internet explorer or mozilla firefox and type that number into the adress bar ( adress bar is were you woud put were you want to go ex. yahoo.com) click enter, it should take you to your routers firmware, it may ask you for a password, your manual should tell you what the default password is, if it doesnt, the password are usually "password" or "admin" or "administrator" and if it ask you for a user name it is usually "admin" or "administrator". then go to any section on the page that says "seurity" or "password" , you should set your security mode ( also known as encryption strength or password strength ) to 128bit WEP. type in a word into the box that says passphrase and click generate. it should give you a bunch of numbers, copy and paste those numbers into a word processing document ( word, wordperfect, notepad etc. and save it) save the changes to your router, there shoud be a button that says save on the page. you willlprobably be disconnected from your router now. go and connect to it wirellesly, it will ask you for a password, type in the security code you just generated ( the one you were suppose to save) and connect. without your password, no one can connect to your router now.

Answer 2

you can secure your wireless connection with a security key. You can use either WPA or WEP (both require you give a combination of letters and numbers as a password which it usually generates for you). Another safeguard is to set up your router to only accept your computer via your wireless card's MAC address. Check over the router manual for more instructions. Both of these by themselves are not really secure, but both together is a good protection against freeloaders.

As a side note, nothing is entirely 100% secure unless you use an ethernet cable instead of wireless. If a freeloader is determined to get access, they probably will.

Answer 3

The freeloader is called a leecher and its illegal without your consent.
Go to your routers address, its usually htt://192.168.0.1 it might be different just check the handbook.
And there are different keys/encryptions. WEP is not that good, so use WPA. It should be under encryption or wireless.
Check your handbook if you can't find it.

Answer 4

The example is for a dlink router, but is similar to other manufactors
This video, it will help you set your wireless security:
Get Connected - How To - Secure Wireless Router Set Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UFh0W_Z3kI

This article explains and show you how to secure your wireless network (A+):
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Content_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1169671217533&packedargs=site%3DUS&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=1753391212B05