How do i secure a wireless network?

Question

i have a netopia router and three computers hooked up wirelessly. how would i change the SSID and start encryption? also is there anything else i can do that would secure it?

Answer 1

wireless networks are easy to get in to.

Answer 2

HI Trisk

You don’t mention which Netopia router you have so these replies may be a little generic.

To set your SSID, you’ll need to access the routers administration settings, you may have an application that logs you in or you may have to use internet explorer and type in an address – this info should be in your user manual.

Once in the admin area, you’ll have the opportunity to set your SSID to anything you like. You can then hide the SSID. This makes it harder for people to use your WiFi without your knowledge because your SSID won’t come up when they do a scan.

You’ll probably be provided with a choice of two types of encryption. WEP and WPA. WEP was the earliest encryption available for Wi-Fi and is a little weak now – it can be quickly cracked by someone who knows what they are doing and cracked slowly by someone with less skills – however it’s pretty insecure these days.

WPA is a lot more secure. However it is not perfect. Someone who really knows what they are doing can crack WPA in under 10 minutes if they want to and work hard.

So, to add a final level of security you should consider using MAC level identification (if your Netopia permits). The way this works is as follows – every individual network adapter, wireless or cable attached has a unique identity code called a MAC address. As far as I am aware, this cannot be spoofed or cloned. If your Netopia permits, you can program in to it the MAC codes of the wireless network adaptor that you want to use and then only that adaptor will be able to access your router.

To determine the MAC address of the computer that you want to connect to your Netopia, go to “Run” from the Start button and type in “cmd” without the “” of course.

When the Command Line box has opened, type in “ipconfig /all” and hit Return

Of the numbers that then are returned, the “Physical Address” is the MAC address of the network card in that computer.

So, in summary

Change SSID and Hide

Use WPA Encryption

Use MAC address filtering

Change the password for your router.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

-Double click on your wireless network connection (usually in the bottom right corner - computer icon)

-Click on properties

-Choose the Wireless network tab

-Look in the list of preferred networks for your network, click on it, then click on properties

-Change the data encryption drop down menu to WEP or WPA

-Enter the network key which should be on the side or back of your modem.

Answer 4

set a password for it!

Answer 5

The best way is to use a flash drive.You set up the router.Plug the flash in one of the router port and set up your wireless connection like you did before but choose (manually assign a network key ) and check Use WPA encryption and follow the instructions, set up your passports,etc