Protecting home wireless network

Artashes

Artashes

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I have recently installed a wireless router in my house and it seems to be unprotected (password-wise), so pretty much anyone can connect to it as a free wi-fi spot. Not that both our neighbors are going to steal the signal, but I'd rather not have it open like that.

Does anyone know of an easy way to password-protect it?

Best,
 
I'm not an expert in wireless networking, but your router should have a configuration screen where you can set a WEP key and password to access the control panel.

I'm sure there are more detailed instructions in your manual.
 
I have recently installed a wireless router in my house and it seems to be unprotected (password-wise), so pretty much anyone can connect to it as a free wi-fi spot. Not that both our neighbors are going to steal the signal, but I'd rather not have it open like that.

Does anyone know of an easy way to password-protect it?

Best,
Click to expand...

Make sure there are no strange vans outside your home :P was watching a show on BBC3 where these scammers were lurking in a van to see who has an unprotected non-passwd routers and it his jaw dropped when they found out they saw his credit card details, holidays and emails. Was rather amusing.
 
most routers come with a firewall, etc

In most cases, you can use the software that has come with the router, to block IPs, and mac addresses. Of course this means that your neighbors have to connect to you at least once so that you can grab their IP or mac address.

Your router should also allow you to specify computers that are allowed to use the network, and to block all others.
 
I lock down our Wireless with simple MAC filtering. While it's not 100% fool proof, it keeps the neighbors off. I check the logs every now and then but have never found anyone extra on it.

It also helps that I keep our wireless in the basement, and by the time you're to the street there's such a low signal that anyone "war driving" or neighbors are unable to hit it - but it works just fine in the house. :)
 
Yesterday I have been playing with some wireless network security in control panel but nothing came out of it yet.

I guess I have to find that manual...

Scary story there, Marks.
 
Even using mac-addr filtering and password protected wep and WPA it can be broken in a matter of time. From Mac-addr spoofing to sniffing the WEP keys any wireless network is at the mercy of hackers.

Using these ina neighborhood is general fool proof however you should ocassionally rotate the keys. A more professional setup might include an authentication server but that's a bit out of range for the average home user.
 
I had eventually somebody come in for rescue. As Marc first said, we went to search for the IP I could access my router with and from that control panel we set it up.
Now nobody will break my 10 digit code to hot spot named Pikels!! :D
 
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