Need help making my wireless network secure

I finally (somehow) I have setup a wireless network. It probably helped that I have moved, and changed ISP's. (I now have Charter cable internet).

I have tried hiding the SSID or not broadcasting it, how do I tell my laptop to find it?

Also, I tried doing a WEP encryption, 64 and 128 and I could not surf the internet, but I could detect the SSID

Can I add my laptops MAC Adress and my PocketPC's MAC address?

I had an encryption key, but it did not work when I tried to put it in with windows. I did a password generate thing, but I could not surf the internet. The encryption seem to interfere with it.

I am using Windows XP on an IBM Thinkpad 600 (PIII). I have plenty of RAM (576MB).

I want to secure my network so others can't free load, or mess with my computer and do something mean.

Thanks

 

Hi whicky1978,

I assume you are using a router, what kind? Is your XP SP1 or SP2, Home or Pro? Any software firewalls? Little more info would help.

 

I am using XP with SP2, home version. Also, my firewall is turned off, I use Norton for protection (Norton Utilities 2006), the software reccomended that.

 

I'm using the linksys wireless router. It's a wireless B router BEFW11S4. I have a pdf version of the manual. I've skimmed over it.

 

First off, you need to see what encryption your wireless card for the laptop supports. I'd go with the highest level it supports.

These are all router settings.
As to the SSID broadcast, enable it while you are setting up the connection and disable once you have everything set up.
Have you changed the default password to access your router? Do that if not.
In wireless mode , go to G only if your card has that.
Choose a different channel from default if you have other signals in your area.
Your encryption needs to be the highest level.
MAC Filtering should be enabled for Permit only. Find the MAC of your laptop wireless card. (Start>run>cmd Type "ipconfig /all" no quotes at the prompt.)
Enable your router firewall under Security.

Once you have done all the settings and have a solid connection, you need to make sure the Windows firewall is OFF and you need to get to your Norton firewall and hit configure. Go to networking tab and do the wizard for adding computers in the trusted zone. I'd use the range 192.168.xxx.xxx method.

http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

You can use the above link also for reference.
The important thing to remember is all the settings have to match between your router and your wireless card. And keep records of what you do.
See if that can get you started. Post back if you run into problems.

 

Thank you LBMEST, I'm sure that will help.

 

I have been able to set up my wireless network so only my pocketpc and my laptop are allowed based the MAC address. But when I try to make it secure by doing a 128 encryption, I can't recieve any packets.

I am using a 3CRSHW196 Wireless LAN OfficeConnect 3COM pc card, version 1.0? Could it be that my card can't handle it?

 

It's not the card.
http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=3CRSHPW196

 

When you setup encryption for the wireless you need to use the same encryption code on the computers that you do on the router.

Also LBMEST said to set your router to G only but I suspect he missed that your on a B router so that wouldn't apply. Everything else he said is perfect.

I'll let you know though that I run 2 wireless units in my home and I don't hide SSID, I just change it from the default and I change from the default channel and I don't use encryption because it slows the connection and I don't think I do anything here that anyone wants to interfer with. I only use MAC Address Filtering. A lot of people are really worried about security and thats good to a point but I'm not running a business where I transfering peoples SSI numbers or anything.

 

I generated a code, and then I copied and pasted it, but I still could not recieve packets. I got limited or no connectivity icon in my system tray. But, if it's going to slow it down, then I may not encrypt it at all. It's not worth the loss in speed.

I figured out how I can add a hidden broadcast.

 

The limited no connectivity issue could be a DHCP problem. If you router is set to the linksys defaults, try setting a static IP address. Go to network connections and right click the wireless NIC and go to propreties. Then go to the TCP/IP settings. set the laptop to 192.168.1.110, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, default gateway 192.168.1.1 and the first DNS to 192.168.1.1. that should get you connected if you havent changed the IP settings in the router.

 

I forgot to ask. Did you buy this router used? If so, while the router is on, press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds and then start over with your configurations. There may be some settings stored that the previous user had that don't apply to your setup.

If you bought it new I would suggest a firmware update because it is probably more then a year old.

 

I bought the router used, and I have reset it many times since.

 

OK, I just thought I would ask, but be sure that it was a long reset for a full 30 seconds. Check the firmware version and see what Linksys has on their site.

 

Thank you