Final Setup Step-Securing Wireless Network

Well, I got connected...but there's one slight problem. The SECURITY light is not lit!

At the router (Belkin) website it looks as if they can configure this for me, but they give me three options and I'm not certain which to choose (?):

64bit WEP
128bit WEP
WPA/WPA2-Personal (PSK)

I'm guessing 'WPA/WPA2-Personal (PSK)' is best - or does it depend on my equipment please?

The new router is designed for that and I'm pretty sure the networked desktop with Vista is good to go - but how would I know if that security level (that "protocol"??) will work with the main PC which the router is connected to please? It's an older Dell (almost 8 years) running XP.

Thanks in advance...

 

Yes, the WPA/WPA2 is the most secure wireless home protocol at this time.
What type of wireless adapter do you have on the older machine? Model number and version number if available. An updated driver may have added functions to use the WPA/WPA2 protocol.

 

Yikes. Wireless adapter on the older machine (?)...I'm not sure I know (or even if I have one - but then I must have one - correct?)...is that the same thing as the ethernet NIC? If so, it's a Realtek RTL8139/810x Fast Family.

Otherwise, I'm lost as usual...

 

The ethernet NIC controls the wired connection only. If you only have that adapter in that machine, the security does not apply to the wired connection.
WPA/WPA2 only applies to wireless connections. It encrypts the radio signal that passes between the router and wireless adapter.
It's late for me so I'll check back in the AM.

 

Ok beautiful, thank you very much again.

Would this (or something like this) --> http://compare.ebay.com/like/170423375681?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes
work for that, please?

 

Yes it would.
If you look at the specifications, it supports - Security: WEP (64/128bit), WPA, WPA2, WPS - so you are covered.

 

Thank you again very much for all your time, patience and help.

Just so I am clear, the link is to an external (USB) device, but I could also use an internal adapter, correct? I think I would actually be more comfortable with an attached, internal device as opposed to something on the outside that could be accidentally bumped and jostled. And I am much more comfortable with opening the case and changing/adding physical parts than I am at attempting to fiddle with all these "virtual" files and folders, etc.

Thank you again!

 

I'm wondering why there's such a wide range of prices for these things? I understand there is a premium paid for name-brand products, but could there really be such a great deal of difference in the quality of these devices? I mean it's not as if the more expensive ones are made of steel, titanium and/or gold - are they??

 

Myself, I prefer PCI cards that you install on the motherboard and have an external antenna. I have used Linksys cards in 3 different desktops and not had a minutes trouble out of them. Example - WMP54G and WMP54GS
I chose these because I had a Linksys router already and wanted to minimize the chances of conflicts.
Other people will choose Netgear and DLink from their experiences.

 

Ooops...now I'm confused...

I already have one of these--> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180420013825&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

which is installed in the secondary (networked) PC (to receive the signal from the router - correct?).

And now I'm understanding that I also need something (to avail the router/hardware security) that may look the same (if I decide to go external/USB), and in fact, even has a very similar sounding name - is this also correct please?

Simply getting another one of what I already have (and installing it on the primary PC) is not what I want to do ...is it? In other words, they are both "adapters", but one is for sending a signal and the other is to receive?

 

If you want both computers to be connected wirelessly, each needs a wireless adapter. Adapters send and receive signals as a part of their function and they communicate with the router only in most normal home set ups, which is what you have.
Manufacturers do not make a sending only or receiving only adapter for the home market.
The security you are implementing is only for the wireless signals to encrypt them and make it harder for someone to read your information as it passes from computer to router. If you keep a computer connected by wire, the WPA protocol is not used by the wired communication with the router. It is a wireless protocol only.

 

This is the best deal in pci wireless adapters.

Edimax - PCI http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833315041

Driver/Utility for Windows 98SE/Me/2K/XP/XP 64/Vista/Vista 64

http://www.edimax.us/html/english/frames/b-download.htm

A little Edu. about Wireless security.

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
Switching Off SSID (same has No Security. SSID can be easily sniffed even if it is Off)
MAC Filtering______(Band Aid if nothing else is available, MAC number can be easily Spoofed).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
-------------------
The three above are Not considered safe.
Safe Starts here at WPA.
-------------------
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP bellow SP3 and did not updated it, you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357>

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html

.

 

Wow - what a rich wealth of information here (from all). But here's where I'm at:

1. I would very much like to avail ALL of the security that I can from my new hardware/router...which is currently not the case.

When I enable the device security (which is WPA-PSK complaint, and can be enabled via the manufacturers website), the wireless signal to my networked PC is dropped/lost. I understand now that both devices would need to be wireless, which, per the install instructions by the manufacturer, keeps the main (1st) PC wired.

So, in order to avail this security (to get this final little blue light to fire-up), I will need to get another adapter, and then figure-out how to "UN-wire" the first (main) PC) - correct?

2. If anyone can point me toward a schematic/diagram of how to do this (how to achieve a completely wireless, and an "as secure as is possible" network), I would be greatly appreciative. I could "probably" figure it out on my own, but am really not so much interested in the trial and error process as much as the end result.

Thanks in advance...