protecting my Wireless network

[dan1981]

Guys,

I'm after idiot proof instructions on how to protect my wireless network - i'm not talking super hard to hack encryption just something so that my newtowrk isn't floating around and can be connected to by anyone!

Its an SMC router and i've loged into the router on its internet page etc etc.

It says that i have got the following linked to my router.....

ip=192.168.2.100 mac=00-1D-4F-CA-98-0B name=iPod-2
ip=192.168.2.101 mac=00-13-F7-98-9D-CA name=user-826b9b1eb9
ip=192.168.2.102 mac=00-1D-D8-1A-EA-C9
ip=192.168.2.103 mac=00-1B-77-00-B8-23 name=roch-l-001311

I have got one PC connected wirelessly, the Xbox hard wired in and a laptop that sometimes connects wirelessly, - I used to have a work laptop that connected to a Roch domain - so i assume that is the 4th one - It no longer gets used - I have no idea what the ipod thingy is....

So how do i make it a little bit more secure than it is at the moment?

Thanks

Dan

ETA: I've put this in the wrong forum....

Edited by dan1981 on Wednesday 3rd December 14:25

[mouk786]

WPA PSK Security or WPA 2 if you have it) - that basically gives it a hard to crack password.

WEP is older security that can easily be cracked by someone trying to.


-

You can also also do MAC filtering. Basically all the equipment that conencts to your Wireless network has a Mac Code, you can set your router to only allow those with pre approved MAC codes to connect

Good for security but a pain if a friend wnats to connect (you can add them but it can be annoying)

[dan1981]

Go on then how do I do any of this???

Will it all be on my router set up page somewhere?


One day not long ago I understood computers....

[Tycho]

mouk786 said:

WPA PSK Security or WPA 2 if you have it) - that basically gives it a hard to crack password.

WEP is older security that can easily be cracked by someone trying to.


-

You can also also do MAC filtering. Basically all the equipment that conencts to your Wireless network has a Mac Code, you can set your router to only allow those with pre approved MAC codes to connect

Good for security but a pain if a friend wnats to connect (you can add them but it can be annoying)

I would just go with WPA/WPA2. MAC address filtering and hidden SSID are easily broken and really don't make your network any more secure than just WPA/WPA2.

[mouk786]

dan1981 said:

Go on then how do I do any of this???

Will it all be on my router set up page somewhere?


One day not long ago I understood computers....

Yes, you can normally access your router settings with your web browser and it should be there somewhere - prob udner security


how does one get round MAC Filtering?

[dan1981]

OK - Sounds like I need WPAing.....

How do I do this without stopping PC / Laptop or xbox working.

Thanks again

Dan

[mouk786]

dan1981 said:

OK - Sounds like I need WPAing.....

How do I do this without stopping PC / Laptop or xbox working.

Thanks again

Dan

Say you choose a password of 'dan' then you ened to enetr that into the main pc which your router is conencted to (jn the router setting)

your xbox and laptop woudl then be asked for the password when you next try and join the wireless network

one problem i had i nthe past is that i bought a wireless card for my pc downstairs and it couldn;t handle WPA, so i could only use WEP.

[malman]

mouk786 said:

dan1981 said:

Go on then how do I do any of this???

Will it all be on my router set up page somewhere?


One day not long ago I understood computers....

Yes, you can normally access your router settings with your web browser and it should be there somewhere - prob udner security


how does one get round MAC Filtering?

By spoofing a valid mac that you previously captured using a network sniffer