Doh, Double Doh, Wireless network

[Getback]

Just discovered my router has a wireless component. Then discovered it was wide open. So I'm exploring 2 things right now. Setting it up for my iphone and security.

[gpwurzel]

Quick suggestion GetBack - do not use wep, use wpa-psk (it lets you choose a password/key yourself). For your key, use numbers in some places to enhance the security of it ie b1ngb0ng etc - and enable mac filtering on your wireless endpoint (you'll have to input the mac addresses of any laptops/desktops wireless cards - which can be found by typing run, cmd, ipconfig /all, look for the wireless card, use that mac address and you should be golden)


HTH,


Wurzel

[Getback]

Quick suggestion GetBack - do not use wep, use wpa-psk (it lets you choose a password/key yourself). For your key, use numbers in some places to enhance the security of it ie b1ngb0ng etc - and enable mac filtering on your wireless endpoint (you'll have to input the mac addresses of any laptops/desktops wireless cards - which can be found by typing run, cmd, ipconfig /all, look for the wireless card, use that mac address and you should be golden)


HTH,


Wurzel

Excellent Gpwurzel. Thanks!

[llama]

And BTW, if your router was using the default configuration password for the past few years (Hint: if it's a linksys router, then the login was blank and the password was "admin") then you should change those too. There's no telling who was able to wirelessly use your router and potentially change settings if you were using the default password.

-Llama

[Getback]

And BTW, if your router was using the default configuration password for the past few years (Hint: if it's a linksys router, then the login was blank and the password was "admin") then you should change those too. There's no telling who was able to wirelessly use your router and potentially change settings if you were using the default password.

-Llama

It's not Linksys thank goodness. For some unknown reason I changed the pw at an earlier date. Had a darn hard time remembering it.

[OOZ662]

For the WPA key, the more random and it is the better. I took all of my family's passwords and interpolated them. Say they were "bear23," "6tree," and "johhny." The resulting password would be "b6jetoarhreh2en3y". With that level of encryption, it would take a supercomputer innumerable years to decipher it without clues.

Being a real nut with too much time on my hands, I copied it all down in a text file and encrypted it with three algorithms and a random hash with TrueCrypt.

[Getback]

For the WPA key, the more random and it is the better. I took all of my family's passwords and interpolated them. Say they were "bear23," "6tree," and "johhny." The resulting password would be "b6jetoarhreh2en3y". With that level of encryption, it would take a supercomputer innumerable years to decipher it without clues.

Being a real nut with too much time on my hands, I copied it all down in a text file and encrypted it with three algorithms and a random hash with TrueCrypt.

  I think we need you on the power grid.

[Vulcan]

WPA2 with a complex password, as above, but don't worry about mac address filtering.

[AirFlyer]

Like other said, just don't use WEP. Being circa 1998 or so I believe it's far past its due date. Being flawed just by how it works people have found out how to hack it far to easily now, hell a bit of Googleing and Linux and anyone in this thread could likely do it.

[Getback]

Okay, I set it to WPA PSK and set a pass phrase instead of the default encryption. Is that correct?

[ImADot]

Try reading these:

https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm
I use this a lot for random strong passwords


http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelesssecurity/tp/wifisecurity.htm
Just scanned through this site and it looks like it might be useful

[batch]

https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm
I use this a lot for random strong passwords

beat me to it.... grc has several nice password generators there which are nearly impossible to crack

I personally use the 63 random characters......... works perfectly

[RTHolmes]

WPA2 with a complex password, as above, but don't worry about mac address filtering.

 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

One thing to remember is also that unless you live in a very populated area, chances are the neighbours that are within range don't even know how to open a computer let alone start hacking wireless passwords.

Security is good but 63 keys will be only a PITA unless you have a real danger of someone intruding. My parents for example don't need any encryption they don't have neighbours within wireless range.

[gpwurzel]

Vulcan, curious as to why you said not to use the mac filtering? Not a biggie, merely curious as I said fella.

Wurzel