security with router

hi all, do not know much about the router. My dad's buddy fixed everything up for us so we could have internet. My Dad's computer is where the router is hooked into. Now my dad's friend just connected me to linksys internet and wen t into the router and changed some connections. Now whenever i look at the option view available networks it says linksys and it says its unsecured and peopole can see info you sent across the net. He said he hooked us up and made it secured but then why does it still say that. Also, what is a WEP and should i use it, heard it was for more security. how do i go about setting my router and my internet to be more secured.

 

Yes it is recommended to set your Router to WEP otherwise people could connect to your router from a nearby house if close enough and use your internet without you knowing.

To do this open up Internet Explorer and type in the address box 192.168.1.1 and then it should bring something up and if it does it will ask for a password and type "admin" without the quotes. Now look through the settings and find something about Wireless and WEP.

If any questions feel free to ask.

Also what is the model of your router?

 

I have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router, Thanks for your help. If you guys have any other ways of keeping it secure please post it, Thank you

 

For the WEP, go into the ip address site, and it says default transmission key, and it has options 1-4, what do i choose, then for the passphrase, do i choose anything i want, and when it generates, and the numbers come up, will it set the WEP automatically, or do i have to do something to put the WEP in. Give directions on how please..Thank you very much

 

Hey BERG,

What kind of wireless card do you have in the other computer? (I'm assuming there is only 1 computer you have to change.) If it supports G mode you can go with WPA or WPA-PreShared Key which is a stronger security type than WEP.
Also, do your computers have the same OS or what do they have?
Did your dad's buddy use the wizard to do the wireless connection or manually?
There are some different options in the Linksys router to help strengthen security.

 

May be this can Help, Wireless Security Settings.

 

I have a 2.4GHz 802.11g Wireless G card. That was puzzeling me also, if i had to change both computers. My parents is the main one where the router is, mine is in my room. We both have windows XP Professional. He did it manually i believe, went into my ip address, did everything. I went into network connections then veiw wireless networks, i can see maybe where you put the keys in, but I am still a little confused on exactly how to do it. This stuff is a little confusing for me so I appreicate the help.

 

If you are using the router to only connect to the internet then you should only have to deal with yours.
Get into the router setup ( IE 192.168.1.1 address)
Under Wireless/Basic Wireless Settings you have
(1) Mode - Use G-Only
(2) Network Name SSID - You can change this on the router but it must be changed on the wireless connection properties on your computer also. You can do an ADD and put in the new name and then properties and do the properties that we set up as we go along.
(3) Channel - Pick anyone for now. (This channel change would be under the properties of the wireless card on your computer.)
(4) SSID broadcast - Leave enabled until your set up is done and then disable at the very end.

Under Wireless/Wireless Security
(1) Mode - I would use WPA-PreShared Key
(2) Algorithm - I use TPIK
(3)Key - can be any number/letter combination you choose from 8 to 63 characters long
(4) Key Renewal - leave this at the default setting.

All this has to be done to match on your computer's wireless connection properties so it can communicate to the router. Everything has to match.

Try all this and see if you are still connected.
Hope that helps.

 

Thank you very much for your help, it worked, but another question..it asks for that password everytime i want to connect to the internet, cant it just connect whenever i am in range? Can i change something in my settings to make it connect automatically without having to put in the key in order to connect. thanks!

 

That's good that it worked.

Can you look at your Network Connections, right click your wireless connection & click Properties. Then Wireless Networks tab. Is your network designated as Automatic? If not, highlight network name & click Properties, click Connection tab and check box for automatic connection.
See if that does it.