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I have a home wifi router, which my desktop PC, my wife's laptop and my XDA connect to. I've been meaning to set up some security on it for a while, and have finally decided to do it before I'm sorry! And no btw, I'm not PMing anyone where I live so they can get free internet!

I've gone into the setup page for the router, and trying to set up the WEP security, it's asked me for a passphrase, which I guess is like having a password, pressed a 'generate' button and it's come up with a load of codes! What do I need to do with these codes, are these my 'passwords', or what?

This is something else I should know more about but am probably nearly as cluless as your gran is about these things!
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Posted: 2006-10-29 14:58:45
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Yes, the code is the actual password (key). The passphrase is used to generate the code, each unique passphrase will generate a different WEP key.

Once you've enabled WEP, the devices that connect wirelessly will have to have the WEP key code entered in order to connect. Some devices or wireless adapters will let you enter the passphrase instead of the key (making it easier for you!) whilst others, like the standard windows XP wireless connection utility, will require you to enter the actual key code.

Luckily, once you've entered the key you can choose to have the device remember the key so that you don't have to re-enter it every time you try to connect to the router!
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Posted: 2006-10-29 15:15:53
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I'll give it a go, hopefully I won't end up locking my entire wifi network so not even I can get into it by not writing this encoded passkey down right or something, as it seems to give me four of these encryped passwords!
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Posted: 2006-10-29 15:28:36
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All four keys are the same Basically, you can make up four different WEP keys if you wish for extra security. It's just an optional security feature, with some neat little side-effects. For example parents could use it to 'switch off' their child's internet access at bedtime by getting the router to use the next WEP key in the list, or you can cycle through them periodical to help prevent brute-force hackers gaining access. And then there's shared key access and blah...blah...blah...

A little tip: when you change wireless settings in a router you should ALWAYS use a cable connection between the computer and the router, not wireless. That way, as long as you know the router control panel login you can always get in if you lock yourself out!

_________________
If your life seems dull and boring, that's probably because it is.

[ This Message was edited by: Cycovision on 2006-10-29 14:45 ]
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Posted: 2006-10-29 15:42:31
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I suggest you use wpa-psk, it is better for home networks.
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Posted: 2006-10-29 15:50:36
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thanks for your help guys! Think I've managed to do it, set a key up and so far haven't locked myself out!
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Posted: 2006-10-29 15:53:16
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Disable SSID Broadcast, tighten's your security a bit more as the average joe searching for a free wify won't find your router.
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Posted: 2006-10-29 17:28:23
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and. . . if your router is like mine, disable pinging in the router so that the noob hackers can't ping your computer
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Posted: 2006-10-29 17:30:00
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Will do, thanks for the tips! Seem to have set up the security sucessfully on my pc, my wife's laptop and my XDA 2S so far, feel a bit more secure now! Also replaced my out of date and next to useless Norton with CA Internet Suite.

My wife installed this prog on her laptop and it immediately found a load of spyware and a couple of viruses norton missed!
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Posted: 2006-10-29 17:50:09
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i find mac addressing sorts me out..

fatreg
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Posted: 2006-10-29 20:09:10
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