Wireless security, yo...

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:19 pm

I have a Netgear FWG114P wireless router.

I have an IBM ThinkPad T40P (i.e., a Centrino).

Tell me exactly what I need to do in order to setup a secure wireless network that only I can use in my apartment.

koldchillah · Post by **koldchillah** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:33 pm

log into the router and enable WEP or WPA (WPA is better) depending on which wireless encryption method that router supports.. If you have the manual, it should have a lot of info on how to enable it properly. I believe you'll have to enter an encryption key for your laptop and after that you should be all set.

Ghosthunter · Post by **Ghosthunter** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:36 pm

Also for added security you can restrict by MAC address as well.

Dunster · Post by **Dunster** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:38 pm

Also, you can set the router to only accept connections from certain MAC addresses.

Also, set the router to only accept connections from b or g. (depending on which you have - I assume g since it's a new lappy)

And finally, yes, use WPA. The encripting slows the connection a tiny bit, but not a noticable amount.

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:39 pm

Ah...so I can restrict the access to ONLY my laptop, then. Niiiiice. Thanks all.

Dunster · Post by **Dunster** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:40 pm

For my house, I am totally wireless. I just use the MAC address restrictions for my connections along with only allowing "g" connections. I do not use WPA (I'm not that concerned around my neighborhood)

Prey521 · Post by **Prey521** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 3:58 pm

And make sure that you disable SSID Broadcasting.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:47 pm

...and change the default router password, otherwise anybody w/ a laptop & wireless card could park outside your house and login to the router!

Jamie_R · Post by **Jamie_R** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:51 pm

128 bit WEP key, disable ssid broadcast ....

should be good to go

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:56 pm

Can you store the WEP key on the laptop so you don't have to remember a huge string of numbers every time you log on?

qball15j · Post by **qball15j** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 4:59 pm

Originally posted by Burke
Can you store the WEP key on the laptop so you don't have to remember a huge string of numbers every time you log on?

Yep, if you have XP on your laptop that will remember it...

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:02 pm

Originally posted by qball15j
Yep, if you have XP on your laptop that will remember it...

[Emperor]

Good, goooooooooooooooooooood...

[/Emperor]

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:53 am

Originally posted by Ghosthunter
Also for added security you can restrict by MAC address as well.

Yup, that's my fave. Lock down who can in that way.

Disable SSID is also another good one...that way you're not advertising your network as much.

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:56 am

Is there a way to automatically detect MAC addresses?

qball15j · Post by **qball15j** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 9:29 am

Originally posted by Burke
Is there a way to automatically detect MAC addresses?

No, you have to manually enter the addresses in your router configuration. Little bit of a pain at first but once you get it setup you don't have to worry about it. If all your clients are wireless enter atleast one mac address before applying the mac filtering settings, otherwise you'll lock yourself out of your own network. i have seen people do that before.

Jada · Post by **Jada** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 8:28 pm

Originally posted by Prey521
And make sure that you disable SSID Broadcasting.

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