securing my wifi connection

[catrina]

hi! i was wondering if anybody knows how to secure my wifi connection. i have activated the mac address filter but i understand that i may still need to use WEP encrpytion to really secure my network. tried searching the net but didnt find antying that could explain what it is and how to use it properly.

would really appreciate any help you can give

thanks!

[ruger]

if you're using a linksys router, just go to the wireless security page then choose WEP or WPA (i think WPA is more secure), input a passphrase or a shared key, save settings and you're done

[catrina]

thanks!

question though : do i create the passphrase or is it built in/included in my router? do i have to implement the passphrase for all computers hooked up ? or will the router automatically do that for me?

[ruger]

yes you have to create the passphrase and implement it to each computer trying to connect wirelessly. (a window asking for a passphrase will pop up the first time you try to connect)

[Edited on 12-2-2004 by ruger]

[Henjie]

Originally posted by catrina
hi! i was wondering if anybody knows how to secure my wifi connection. i have activated the mac address filter but i understand that i may still need to use WEP encrpytion to really secure my network. tried searching the net but didnt find antying that could explain what it is and how to use it properly.

would really appreciate any help you can give

thanks!

Before anything else, make sure you're not using the router's default login/password (<blank>/admin for Linksys routers). You can replace the password by going to the "Administration" tab inside the router's web-based config page. ;-)

As for the WEP key, you can even input your own (keys 1-4) without having the router generate random keys for you using a passphrase. This can make the keys much easier to remember.

For 64-bit WEP, hex: 10 characters, A-F, 0-1. Example: a1B2c3D4e5
For 128-bit WEP, hex: 26 characters, A-F, 0-1.

When inputting hexadecimal WEP keys in your Mac's AirPort setup, add the $ symbol before the key to make it work. Example: $a1B2c3D4e5.

It's also a good idea to change the default SSID from say, Linksys, to something like catrinaWiFi. And turn off SSID broadcasting so your Wi-Fi network won't show up on a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop even if it's within range. The only way to connect to it is to manually enter the SSID and the WEP key. Great for keeping strangers (or even your friends) out of your network. ;-)


~Henjie

[ginoledesma]

Here's how to enable "maximum" security in the majority of wireless APs:

1. Change the AP's login password
2. Disable SSID
3. If the AP supports multiple modes (A/B/G), set it to the mode only YOU use (e.g. G only)
4. Enable WEP, or WPA if available
5. Enable MAC filtering (to your MAC only)
6. Disable DHCP if you can, or otherwise limit the DHCP address to YOURs only

this makes it a tad inconvenient, but you get the most security you can.

[catrina]

thanks guys!

will try this when i get home

[Macmon]

One thing i noticed with connecting the linksys wrt54g with the ibook is that you have to connect it first with SSID broadcasting and then when it is connected already you can now turn of the SSID broadcasting.

[ayrton senna]

Originally posted by ginoledesma
Here's how to enable "maximum" security in the majority of wireless APs:

1. Change the AP's login password
2. Disable SSID
3. If the AP supports multiple modes (A/B/G), set it to the mode only YOU use (e.g. G only)
4. Enable WEP, or WPA if available
5. Enable MAC filtering (to your MAC only)
6. Disable DHCP if you can, or otherwise limit the DHCP address to YOURs only

this makes it a tad inconvenient, but you get the most security you can.

1) gino how do you "enble MAC filtering (to your MAC only)"?
2) & how do you disable SSID?

thanks...

AS

[catrina]

Originally posted by ayrton senna

Originally posted by ginoledesma
Here's how to enable "maximum" security in the majority of wireless APs:

1. Change the AP's login password
2. Disable SSID
3. If the AP supports multiple modes (A/B/G), set it to the mode only YOU use (e.g. G only)
4. Enable WEP, or WPA if available
5. Enable MAC filtering (to your MAC only)
6. Disable DHCP if you can, or otherwise limit the DHCP address to YOURs only

this makes it a tad inconvenient, but you get the most security you can.

1) gino how do you "enble MAC filtering (to your MAC only)"?
2) & how do you disable SSID?

thanks...

AS

1) gino how do you "enble MAC filtering (to your MAC only)"?
- you only add the mac addresses of the computers taht will access your router/internet. you need to register both airports (wifi) and ethernet ports. its usually under firewalls (for dlink routers). you can get your mac address like this :

FOR MAC :
ethernet :
click on system preferences ->network->ethernet (built-in ethernet)->ethernet tab

airport :
click on system preferences ->network->airport->airport tab

you will know if its the mac address because it looks like this 00:00:00:00:00:00. the address is a mixture of numbers and letters

FOR WINDOWS:
type ipconfig/all in the command prompt window

the mac address is labeled physical address

just a word of caution. when entering your mac address, enter the mac address of the computer you are using to access the router first. i know its sounds very common sense but i know alot of people that locked themselves out because they placed the other mac address first before theirs haha

2) & how do you disable SSID?
- there is a tick box for this. its usually in the same page where you can change the name of your router/network.

hope that this helps you :beer: