Wireless Security.

[xXxCocoFangxXx]

So I just got a wireless router and now I have wireless running around my house, so now neighbors can connect to it also, which I don't want. What i want to know is how I can put a passcode on my wireless connection so no one can connect to it. I need some help, and I'd very appreciate it. By the way, I have Vista, if that matters at all.

[kibito87]

I'm not sure if this works for all routers but in your explorer bar type in 1.9.168.1.1 and (i'm basing this off of my linksys router) it should bring you to some sort of username password window. if that worked, then type in the username box admin. That should give you access to the routers firmware. From there one of the tabs should be for wireless or security in general. Then you set the way you want the password encrypted and what the password will be and so on and so forth.

[Supermodder911]

I'm not sure if this works for all routers but in your explorer bar type in 192.168.1.1* and (i'm basing this off of my linksys router) it should bring you to some sort of username password window. if that worked, then type in the username box admin. That should give you access to the routers firmware. From there one of the tabs should be for wireless or security in general. Then you set the way you want the password encrypted and what the password will be and so on and so forth.

[Shock120]

http://portforward.com/routers.htm
heres a list of routers, find yours and you will find the Router's IP
or read the manuals that came with it.

[xXxCocoFangxXx]

When I open the web browser and type admin for the username and password, it doesn't connect or anything..

It says unauthorized action, something like that.

I have a linksys router by the way..

[kibito87]

Type in "admin" not "administrator", as the username OR the password. I think it was just the password. That should get you into the router. If you need further help let me know. I have also have a linksys with wireless setup and protected.

[Eaton]

Just type in admin in the user name and leave the password field blank and that should do it.

[Patrickssj6]

You people make me cry.

The address you type into explorer bar depends on the subnet mask which changes from router to router.

Usually go Start->Run type cmd then ipconfig /all and there should be something like 192.168.1.101 if you have linksys. In that case type 192.168.1.1 into the explorer bar. Now username and pass...if no family member farked around with it it should be the default one...leave Username blank and type admin for pass or "default".

WEP can be cracked within a few mins but use it anyway.

[kibito87]

You people make me cry.

The address you type into explorer bar depends on the subnet mask which changes from router to router.

Usually go Start->Run type cmd then ipconfig /all and there should be something like 192.168.1.101 if you have linksys. In that case type 192.168.1.1 into the explorer bar. Now username and pass...if no family member farked around with it it should be the default one...leave Username blank and type admin for pass or "default".

WEP can be cracked within a few mins but use it anyway.

He said he uses linksys... Which by default uses 192.168.1.1 as it's IP address. So that's what I told him to type in. You are just basically repeating what I told him to do. But thanks

[antszy101]

Normally when you run the wireless network setup wizard it asks whether you want to put encrytion on the network and then it assigns it a key.

[Patrickssj6]

He said he uses linksys... Which by default uses 192.168.1.1 as it's IP address. So that's what I told him to type in.

I'm not sure if this works for all routers but in your explorer bar type in 1.9.168.1.1

[[cc]z@nd!]

ok, here's the complete run-down to get into your router's config, and lock it down super-tight. long post, but it should have anything you need to know.


1: find your router's IP address.

hit Ctrl+R to bring upt he run menu, and type "cmd" to launch the command prompt. type "ipconfig" and look for something called default gateway, this should be the address of your router. here's an example of what my machine gave me:

Code: Select all

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS suffix . : [blank]
IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.145
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

i could explain subnetting now, but that'll take too long. just notice that the only difference between my IP and the router's is the last digit, which also happens to be the only different digit int he subnet mask (hmmm...). the router and I are on the 192.168.1.0 subnet, we're just different nodes, (1 and 145, to put it simply)

so in this case, my router's IP is 192.168.1.1


2: configure

go to http://www.phenoelit-us.org/dpl/dpl.html, and Ctrl+F for your model of router (most likely WRT54G if it's linksys). note the username and password listed on the site. now, open a new tab (optional) and type in the IP of your router (likely 192.168.1.1). if it doesn't go, try putting http:// or https:// in front of the IP. when prompted for the username/password, type in what you saw on the site. if it doesn't work, try a few more times slowly in case you mistyped. if it still doesn't work, as a family member if they did anything.

ok, you should be logged in now i don't know the details of the menu you'll be presented, so just explore and you'll find the options eventually.


how you configure is ultimately up to you, but here's the reccomended setup for maximum security:

encryption: use WPA or WPA2. nearly all devices (except the DS ) support at least WPA, so this is a good bet. WEP is an option, but is about as secure as a suit of armor made of paper mache. speak of the devil, my cousin just visited and cracked my WEP in under 10 minutes, easy. WEP bad, WPA good. this way, you'll have encryption so not just anybody can sniff your traffic while you login to halomods, or buy things on eBay, and nobody can get in without knowing the passphrase...

the passphrase should be long. not a password, but a passphrase. i'd recommend a phrase you can easily remember, the longer the better (but don't go overkill). since WPA doesn't have any easily exploitable flaws like WEP (that we know of anyways) a cracker can only use bruteforce to get in. simply making the passphrase longer than, oh, 13-15 characters is fine, but mine's at 27 for extra insurance, just in case.

ESSID hiding: worthless. if someone's breaking into your wifi, this won't do anything, but what it will do is force you to remember your ESSID to configure any other devices to connect. at best will only keep elementary kids out, and maybe not even then.

MAC address whitelist: like ESSID hiding; worthless. you have to keep up with the MAC address of ANYTHING you want to use on your network, so if friends/relatives come over, you have to find the MAC address of their device, then go add it to the list in your router. but, since MAC addresses are easily changeable/spoofable, anyone that's going to break into your network won't be impeded for more than a minute or two. at best, it'll only keep kids out, which is what encryption will do anyways.

[uralllame]

Yeah, always use WPA(2). I cracked my school's WEP, and I printed about 500 pages courtesy of the school's printers . Screw you, 50 page per week limit!

[bcnipod]

Yeah, always use WPA(2). I cracked my school's WEP, and I printed about 500 pages courtesy of the school's printers . Screw you, 50 page per week limit!

why would you need to print 50 pages in a week?
also there is no real way to make sure that your network will be completely secure, but I doubt that most neighboors will spend time trying to crack your wireless.

[kibito87]

He said he uses linksys... Which by default uses 192.168.1.1 as it's IP address. So that's what I told him to type in.

I'm not sure if this works for all routers but in your explorer bar type in 192.168.1.1

Oh my apologies for typing a little faster than usual. Please note, I said I wasn't sure if it worked for all routers. After I discovered he had a linksys, that, good sir, does use 192.168.1.1 as it's default IP address. You quoting me made no sense and infact didn't help in the slightest.