Setting up wireless security

[grazer15]

From what I understand setting up a secure wireless network for your PC's is quite simple.Just use the windows wireless network wizard and it is supposed to make everything simple.Up until now I have just used 1 pc along with the Xbox 360 on xbox live.Now I have got myself a laptop i think i should finally make everything secure.I understand the wireless wizard gives you a wep key which you can just store on a usb memory stick.Which sounds simple but can I just stick the memory stick in the 360's usb port or do I have to do things manually.Is it all as quick and easy as it is made out to be.Please help

[ThePassenger]

Log on to your AP / Router / Whatever is providing the wireless. This will probably require a web browser, the IP address of the device (often 192.168.0.1) and the username / password for the device (if it's running on defaults look in the manual).
You should see a section marked "Security" or "Wireless Security" go to this area.
You will see a wide range of options, probably in a drop down style box. This should have things such as WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2 and the like in.

If you only see WEP and WPA-PSK, select the WPA option. The 360 is new enough that if it can't do this then it's pants... hit it with a hammer, swear at the evil that is Microsoft and then go buy another for being foolishly destructive.
Type in a nice longish passphrase that has mixed case and preferably number substitution (i.e. l33t) so something like "M0nK3ySe3MoNKeyD0" or "W4rW1th0ut3nd".

Accept this, the router will reboot and everyone will loose their connection.

In windows XP-SP2 (assuming your letting Windows manage the connection), double click the wireless icon down by the clock, it will show your WiFi connection, double click it and Windows should prompt for the key. Type it in, twice, just like the box asks for. Click Ok. Bingo.

The 360 I'm not sure about but I'd suggest in it's erm.. Dashboard? you'll see WiFi configuration options that involved a WPA-PSK setup.

[vex]

[redacted]

[Wyvern971]

vex said:

Personally I would also lock down your mac addresses so that only those you have selected can see the router.

This can be spoofed, but that and the combination of WPA/WEP secruity should deter enough people.

1) If you can avoid it don't use WEP, it's pants and can be cracked in 15 minutes using an aggressive tactic (Longer for passive) Use WPA (pref. WPA2) if your devices support it.
2) Use a complex and long password with uppercase lowercase numbers and punctuation,(I do this and have it stored as an encrypted file on my notebook)
3) Don't bother with MAC filtering, if they've cracked WEP then the chances are they will know how to spoof a MAC address. In the long run it's more hassle than it's worth.

[Tonsko]

Once you've created said long and complex password, use this software to store it so you don't forget it:

http://keepass.sourceforge.net/

It's great. Easy to use, fast, and ultimately, very secure!

[vex]

The problem comes when you replace old hardware and it has WPA but other things you have do not.

That is when you are forced down the WEP route and MAC filtering just helps that little bit more.