Apr
25

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DIY Simple Wireless Router Set Up..

Category: Computer Security, Wireless Networks Tags: , ,

Setting up a wireless router can be simple if you simply disregard the part in the instructions that read: pop in CD, un plug a couple wires, re plug in wires, and presto your surfing the net. For some reason they always omit the part about typing in the correct settings into the WiFi Control Panel. I’m going to use the Linksys router for an example but this applies to most all brands of wireless routers. Now is a good time to get out the paperwork/contract that came from your DSL provider.

If you run the setup CD on the computer that is going to be “wired” to the wireless router you will more than likely get an error message that says “cannot connect to Internet please contact your provider”. You may get this because the settings in the Control Panel of the new router have not been configured. I don’t even bother with the CD anymore. It’s not really needed as no software or drivers are need to run the wireless router.

1. Unplug the Ethernet cable (looks like a phone cable only wider & flatter) from your providers modem box(the box that flashes colored lights). Plug it into the wireless router slot #1. Your computer is now hooked to the WiFi router in slot 1 via a Ethernet cable.

2. Plug the Ethernet cable that came with the WiFi router into the modem box from your provider (where you just took the cable out of) and plug the other other end into the slot of the Wireless router that says INTERNET. Now your modem box and Wireless router have a ethernet cable connecting them.

3. Connect supplied  power cord to Wireless router and then into a surge protector (yes, you need a good surge protector for electronics)

4. Open your preferred browser: Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox, Opera and in the address panel type in one of the following adresses:

Linksys: http://192.168.1.1/
D-Link/Netgear: http://192.168.0.1/
SMC: http://192.168.2.1/

5. You will see the Control Panel to your router or you will get a box asking for Username and password. By default for most brands of routers the username is blank and the password is admin. Some routers it may be the username is admin and password is blank. Or both are admin. It will be listed on the instructions that came with your router or you can visit the website of the brand router you have to find out if the above addresses don’t work for you.

6. On the paperwork that came with your DSL contract you may need the IP address, subnet mask, gateway etc. If you cannot find your paperwork you must call your provider to get the following details: Connection Type (Static, PPPoE,etc), IP address, DNS1,etc. First you must determine your connection type (Static,PPoE,DHCP,etc) by reading the paperwork provided by your DSL provider. Fill in the fields listed on your paperwork into the Control Panel, it will depend what you fill in by what type of connection you choose. Click SAVE.

4. In the WiFi control panel go to the Wireless Securityoption then choose the type of security (most common is WPA 2-Personal, AES is most common Algorithm), now type in a password/key manually or use the generate key/password feature, it should look something like this or use this one:    bqjerbfgn6nia138          It’s imperative to have a combination of letters and numbers. It should be a long string of characters NOT words. For more tips on secure password check out my other post:  Super Quick Tips To Create Secure Passwords

5. Print the page that has your key/password and keep it with other important computer documents.

6. One last thing to do before leaving the WiFi Control Panel is change the default password that you used to login (admin) Go to Administration>Management>Router Password and put in any secure password you wish (combination of letters and numbers at least 8 characters long). Write that down on the page you printed off as Router password.

7. If you have other devices,printers or computers set up on the network you will need to put in the new type of security you chose (WPA, WPA2, etc) and the password in the network and sharing option or network connection area.

Your wireless network is now secure and ready to use. For each new device you want to use with your WiFI router you will need to simply enter the security type and the password. ENJOY!!

Linksys Control Panel @ http://192.168.1.1

Linksys Control Panel @ http://192.168.1.1

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Apr
16

By

Why Your Wireless Network Should NOT Be Set For OPEN Access!

Category: Computer Security, Computer Tips, Wireless Networks Tags: , ,

You decide to buy a wireless router, bring it home, tear it out of the box, pop in the set up CD, and within minutes BAM your surfing the Internet wirelessly. Yea it’s pretty much that simple to set up your WiFi. But where problems arise is when people leave their  WiFi network OPEN or UNSECURE, meaning no password/key to protect the network. Some people simply say, “Oh I don’t mind if my neighbor jumps on and uses it,I like my neighbors.” Well I like my neighbors too but I don’t want them checking out my personal files. Nor do I really want to answer questions from the police if my neighbors happen to be involved in illegal activity using their computer and the tracked IP address is showing up as mine because after all its coming from my WiFi router. On more little problem you could face is the possibility of your computer(s) getting infected with a worm/Trojan because some are designed to meander about the network attempting to infect all users of the WiFi network. Conficker is a great example of this!

When your connected to any wireless router (airport, home, office, wherever..) go to  Network option in Windows ,you will now see what computers and devices are using the same WiFi network as you. Click on any of the computer names either a box will pop up and ask for the Windows user name and password or you can just see all the file folders right there because the owner of that computer didn’t think it was important to create a password to log-on Windows. Or maybe this is you that didn’t set up a Windows password and the guy at the airport is checking out the racy photos of you meant for your husband’s eyes only or maybe he’s loving checking out your bank statements you keep in your Documents folder that you set up as a share folder, who knows….

It only takes a few minutes to set up a SECURE WiFi network. Here are the basic steps to do it:

1. Determine the type of router you have.

2. In an Internet browser (IE, FireFox, Safari) type in one of the listed IP address in the address panel or click one of the links below

Linksys: http://192.168.1.1/
D-Link/Netgear: http://192.168.0.1/
SMC: http://192.168.2.1/

3. Now either you will see the Control Panel to your router or you will get a box asking for Username and password. By default for most brands of routers the username is blank and the password is admin. Some routers it may be the username is admin and password is blank. Or both are admin. It will be listed on the instructions that came with your router or you can visit the website of the brand router you have to find out if the above doesn’t work for you.

4. Once in the WiFi control panel go to the Wireless Securityoption then choose the type of security (most common is WPA 2-Personal, AES is most common Algorithm), now type in a password/ key manually or use the generate key/password feature, should look something like this:    bqjerbfgn5nia138          It’s imperative to have a combination of letters and numbers. It should be a long string of characters NOT words. For more tips on secure password check out my other post:  Super Quick Tips To Create Secure Passwords

5. Print the page that has your key/password and keep it with other important computer documents.

6. One last thing to do before leaving the WiFi Control Panel is change the default password that you used to login (admin) Go to Administration>Management>Router Password and put in any secure password you wish (combination of letters and numbers at least 8 characters long). Write that down on the page you printed off as Router password.

7. If you have other devices,printers or computers set up on the network you will need to put in the new type of security you chose (WPA, WPA2, etc) and the password in the network and sharing option or network connection area.

Your wireless network is now secure and under your control, not the neighbor kids control.

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