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[stuart30]

Ive been given a cable router along with a 25 digit passcode.

Basicly i was told plug cable modern into router...turn wifi on and when presented with list click my routers name and then enter 25 digit number.

Done the above and once rebooted laptop and router/cable router....connected straight too internet.

My question is can anyone with in range now connect too net or view contents of laptop now....should i be setting up some sort of security for the router.

Totaly new too all this wifi so an idiots guide would be helpfull.

[JamesV6CDX]

Sounds like you've already got a WEP Key.
Filter on MAC addresses for a bit more security. Not foolproof as they can be spoofed, but certainly a good way to stop Joe public connecting...

[TheBoy]

No (consumer) wireless is completely secure.  But depends on the encryption used.

40bit WEP - pointless
128bit WEP - breakable in minutes

WPA/WPA2 - brute force cracking only, as long as key not dictionary word, considered moderately secure.

[Kevin Wood]

Depends on the security the router is running. Sounds like it's running something due to the need to type in the code, so that will deter the casual surfer, but it would be advisable to have a poke around in the router's configuration as there is more you could probably do:

1. Restrict it by MAC address to anly talk to your machine(s)
2. Use WPA rather than WEP encryption if possible
3. Change the router's login informaiton from the default so a default password can't be used to get into it and manage it.
4. Disable access to the router for management via wireless connections.

You could also firewall the wireless connection to your laptop and block  windows networking if you don't need to share files across the network.

Kevin

[Bandit127]

Come on guys, Stuart 30 said he's a beginner...

Stuart, TB is right about WPA2. Spend some time surfing through your router setup. In "security" you will have put the 25 bit code to get you this far. Somewhere there will be an option for WPA, hopefully WPA2.

In the meantime, unless a black car with blacked out windows parks up outside for an hour, you are relatively safe. To see the contents of your laptop would require the hacking of your WEP password and your laptop's firewall. Just hacking your WEP will only allow them to nick your bandwidth (and dowload warez etc with your name stamped all over it). You do have a firewall enabled on your laptop of course.

It's quite a good surf actually. I'll start you off...
... google search for wireless security

The only thing I would add is that if you turn SSID broadcast off, it won't turn up in your list of available networks. But then it won't for the guys in the black car either...

[Andy B]

Now you've found confidence in setting up a wireles do-dah, do you fancy coming to my house & set up my daughter's?   It used to work ...... now it doesn't & I can't find a spanner to fit!    

[TheBoy]

To see the contents of your laptop would require the hacking of your WEP password and your laptop's firewall.

More than one way to skin a cat, and if you get access to the local network (via wireless), you are all the way to getting anything you want - I have demonstrated such things before, and shocked a lot of people

[Bandit127]

To see the contents of your laptop would require the hacking of your WEP password and your laptop's firewall.

More than one way to skin a cat, and if you get access to the local network (via wireless), you are all the way to getting anything you want - I have demonstrated such things before, and shocked a lot of people

'Tis a good job you don't have a black car with blacked out widows then . Stuart30 will hopefully learn and grow his knowledge of security without major disaster and he will soon be competent in defending his network.

Regular reading of these sites helps:

Sans (mostly aimed at big network admins, but you will hear it here first even if you are a one man band)

The Register. A lot of (well delivered) general news but they are quick to post developing threats

Home networkers may find them a bit 'dry' but they do tell you where to look for the next bunch of bad guys.

[stuart30]

I knew i should have paid attention the last time someone explained wifi and security...but then without having one set up it all sounded complicated.

Just looked at wireless networks availbale and it lists 4 Bt home hub belkin54g and a linksys....mine just says wireless.

When hovering mouse over each available connection obviously 3 say security enabled network but mine just says connected along with security type WEP....wireless 802.11b.....SSID-wireless.

So if i need to change from wep to wpa and change routers password (ummm not sure if it has one... :-/0 ) where would i find the area too change these.

Theres only one laptop being used wirelessly however im looking at renting a couple of rooms out so would like too offer wifi to tenants...would this complicate things and what should i give them to be able too access the internet.

Having a read of links now bandit....cheers.

[TheBoy]

I knew i should have paid attention the last time someone explained wifi and security...but then without having one set up it all sounded complicated.

Just looked at wireless networks availbale and it lists 4 Bt home hub belkin54g and a linksys....mine just says wireless.

When hovering mouse over each available connection obviously 3 say security enabled network but mine just says connected along with security type WEP....wireless 802.11b.....SSID-wireless.

So if i need to change from wep to wpa and change routers password (ummm not sure if it has one... :-/0 ) where would i find the area too change these.

Theres only one laptop being used wirelessly however im looking at renting a couple of rooms out so would like too offer wifi to tenants...would this complicate things and what should i give them to be able too access the internet.

Having a read of links now bandit....cheers.

WEP - check wireless settings in router, if it can't do WPA (minimum), I'd bin it and get one that can.

[stuart30]

I knew i should have paid attention the last time someone explained wifi and security...but then without having one set up it all sounded complicated.

Just looked at wireless networks available and it lists 4 Bt home hub belkin54g and a linksys....mine just says wireless.

When hovering mouse over each available connection obviously 3 say security enabled network but mine just says connected along with security type WEP....wireless 802.11b.....SSID-wireless.

So if i need to change from wep to wpa and change routers password (ummm not sure if it has one... :-/0 ) where would i find the area too change these.

Theres only one laptop being used wirelessly however im looking at renting a couple of rooms out so would like too offer wifi to tenants...would this complicate things and what should i give them to be able too access the internet.

Having a read of links now bandit....cheers.

WEP - check wireless settings in router, if it can't do WPA (minimum), I'd bin it and get one that can.

Its quite an old router im assuming Netgear MR314.

Just been having a fiddle and if i go into wireless network properties i have a drop down box with security type...encription type...network security key.

security type is currently open but have option too use wpa-2 personal,wpa-enterprise,802.1x.

If security is changed to wpa-2 then in encryption i have the option of AES or TKIP.?

Also have the option of changing security key. :-/

[TheBoy]

I knew i should have paid attention the last time someone explained wifi and security...but then without having one set up it all sounded complicated.

Just looked at wireless networks availbale and it lists 4 Bt home hub belkin54g and a linksys....mine just says wireless.

When hovering mouse over each available connection obviously 3 say security enabled network but mine just says connected along with security type WEP....wireless 802.11b.....SSID-wireless.

So if i need to change from wep to wpa and change routers password (ummm not sure if it has one... :-/0 ) where would i find the area too change these.

Theres only one laptop being used wirelessly however im looking at renting a couple of rooms out so would like too offer wifi to tenants...would this complicate things and what should i give them to be able too access the internet.

Having a read of links now bandit....cheers.

WEP - check wireless settings in router, if it can't do WPA (minimum), I'd bin it and get one that can.

Its quite an old router im assuming Netgear MR314.

How do you access the router...tried too log into netgear page but defualt username and pasword must have been changed at some point.

Good job the username/password are changed!  Or anyone nearby could modify your settings!

You need username/password to change settings, netgear website should show you how to reset and set up.

But if its old, probably can't do WPA.  I would be wary of it.

[stuart30]

I knew i should have paid attention the last time someone explained wifi and security...but then without having one set up it all sounded complicated.

Just looked at wireless networks availbale and it lists 4 Bt home hub belkin54g and a linksys....mine just says wireless.

When hovering mouse over each available connection obviously 3 say security enabled network but mine just says connected along with security type WEP....wireless 802.11b.....SSID-wireless.

So if i need to change from wep to wpa and change routers password (ummm not sure if it has one... :-/0 ) where would i find the area too change these.

Theres only one laptop being used wirelessly however im looking at renting a couple of rooms out so would like too offer wifi to tenants...would this complicate things and what should i give them to be able too access the internet.

Having a read of links now bandit....cheers.

WEP - check wireless settings in router, if it can't do WPA (minimum), I'd bin it and get one that can.

Its quite an old router im assuming Netgear MR314.

How do you access the router...tried too log into netgear page but defualt username and pasword must have been changed at some point.

Good job the username/password are changed!  Or anyone nearby could modify your settings!

You need username/password to change settings, netgear website should show you how to reset and set up.

But if its old, probably can't do WPA.  I would be wary of it.

Its quite an old router im assuming Netgear MR314.

Just been having a fiddle and if i go into wireless network properties i have a drop down box with security type...encription type...network security key.

security type is currently open but have option too use wpa-2 personal,wpa-enterprise,802.1x.

If security is changed to wpa-2 then in encryption i have the option of AES or TKIP.?

Also have the option of changing security key.

[TheBoy]

I knew i should have paid attention the last time someone explained wifi and security...but then without having one set up it all sounded complicated.

Just looked at wireless networks availbale and it lists 4 Bt home hub belkin54g and a linksys....mine just says wireless.

When hovering mouse over each available connection obviously 3 say security enabled network but mine just says connected along with security type WEP....wireless 802.11b.....SSID-wireless.

So if i need to change from wep to wpa and change routers password (ummm not sure if it has one... :-/0 ) where would i find the area too change these.

Theres only one laptop being used wirelessly however im looking at renting a couple of rooms out so would like too offer wifi to tenants...would this complicate things and what should i give them to be able too access the internet.

Having a read of links now bandit....cheers.

WEP - check wireless settings in router, if it can't do WPA (minimum), I'd bin it and get one that can.

Its quite an old router im assuming Netgear MR314.

How do you access the router...tried too log into netgear page but defualt username and pasword must have been changed at some point.

Good job the username/password are changed!  Or anyone nearby could modify your settings!

You need username/password to change settings, netgear website should show you how to reset and set up.

But if its old, probably can't do WPA.  I would be wary of it.

Its quite an old router im assuming Netgear MR314.

Just been having a fiddle and if i go into wireless network properties i have a drop down box with security type...encription type...network security key.

security type is currently open but have option too use wpa-2 personal,wpa-enterprise,802.1x.

If security is changed to wpa-2 then in encryption i have the option of AES or TKIP.?

Also have the option of changing security key.

Is this on the router or in Windows?

Both sides (the router and Windows) need to match.

[Bandit127]

Bit of a marathon, but here goes...

First, connect your laptop to the router with an Ethernet cable. Changing the security settings will prevent Wifi connection...  

You will enter something like 192.168.0.1 in your browser to access the setup pages for the routher. You have already done this I assume.
The next step is password protected, but something really easy to Google. . Like user = admin and password = admin. Let me suggest a password: adm1nacc3ss. Find the relevant page in your configuration and change them to both something unique and secure. Aim for being able to change the IP address (192.168.0.1) to something else at some point in the future too. Keep the 192.168 bit on the front though.

Next, go to the page for SSID. It says 'wireless'. This is not a security setting, but it's cool if you set it to StuartsWLAN or something. It is still visible to all, uless you turn brodcasting off. I would leave it on for the moment.

Change the security to WPA (WPA2 if it's an option). Enter a password. Let me suggest one: W1rele55acce55. Disconnect the Ethernet cable and try to reconnect by wireless. If you left SSID broadcast on, you will see your wireless network in the list. Click (double click?) on it. Mirror the settings and WPA(2) password from the router. This password is the W1rele55acce55 one. Should be bingo!

Take care here though.
The first password you changed (admin/admin) was to directly access the router setup. adm1nacc3ss
The second was the password to access your wireless network. W1rele55acce55.

If you get stuck, plug the Ethernet cable back in and start from the top. Expect to make mistakes - we have all done it. (Well, I did anyway).

The passwords were suggestions of course.