Putting a secure home network-plus installing wireless adapter for pc?

Question

I have a d-link router and an adapter for my pc, since the pc has vista there was driver problems, and I have had to use my laptop to connect to the router, but my internet is unsecured, i would like to know how to secure it. They tried to give me this 30 trial software but i know of another way, its just i don't remember much about it. The d-link wua-2340 is designed for xp and installing it into vista was a terrible mistake considering that it uninstalled my usb drivers and i had to preform a system restore by using the keyboard, so bad to normal i call customer service he explained that if i download the drivers from the d-link site and follow simply it shouldn't be difficult, now lets see what i am doing wrong here. First i download the drivers do downstairs and put the program before plugging in the adapter as useual then when it says to plug it in, its not detected and it tells me to plug it in, well h**l yea i'm plugging in, I'm frustrated i gave up for tonight, I'm reading about how to make a secure wireless network but I'm so confused, with certain protocols to preform, so while i am on the laptop i instal the router via Ethernet turning off the wireless thinking it will direct me to secure it, no it offers me the trial software, very upsetting. So i am back on wireless and just need help with

Understanding why my USB d-link wua-vista drivers, MEANING the OS telling me that it is not connected when it is, when it told me to connect now and press next, I hate vista!

secondly how do i secure a wireless network anything and advice means alot

thank you

Answer 1

Answer to your second question,

To secure your wireless router you need to enable wireless encryption (WPA recommended) and you do that through a web interface, here are some of the defaults for the most used wireless router brand:

http://www.phenoelit-us.org/dpl/dpl.html

http://www.tech-defense.com

Answer 2

To secure the network set a WPA2 password and MAC-address filtering.  It's possible to break into that, but that's why they post guards on Fort Knox - you can break into that too, if you're determined enough.  The normal script kiddie can't break WPA2 and the security expert who can won't.