easy questions for you techies

grimbo

i.ve finally managed to set up a router (netgear DG834G) :j i.ve just switched on the laptop and found an unsecured network mine i think as its not been there before.

some really easy question for you techincal people out there. Please speak non technical

Do i make the network secure before getting the laptop wireless?

Is this what to do?

1. I heard to uncheck the "allow broadcast name SSID" is this right? if so how will the laptop find the network

2. to set the security option to WPA and get a key from https://www.grc.com/password is this also correct? will i have to remember/write it down for the laptop to connect.

How do i find out if the network is secure and who is using it apart from knocking on the neighbours doors.
:beer:

skiddy2k

grimbo wrote:

1. I heard to uncheck the "allow broadcast name SSID" is this right? if so how will the laptop find the network

correct, untick the box. the laptop will ask you to enter the SSID when configuring it... it wont find it itself

grimbo wrote:

2. to set the security option to WPA and get a key from www.grc.com/password is this also correct? will i have to remember/write it down for the laptop to connect.

when using "WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key)", you make your own key... like a password.. i think its between 8 and 16 characters. this is the second-line of defence, incase someone gets your SSID.

not sure about how to check if the network's secure... if you do the above, it'l be alright as far as i'm aware

Chippy_Minton

Make sure you can access internet sites wirelessly before turning on wireless security.

1 - Yes, that's a good idea. Your laptop remembers the name from when 'Allow Broadcast of Name/SSID' was enabled.

2 - Yes, correct. Copy the key into a Notepad file on your laptop before enabling wireless security. Then you can easily copy and paste it when you connect wirelessly and it asks you for the network key.

Once wireless security is enabled, no one will be able to access the router without the correct password key. To test it, disconnect from your wireless connection and try reconnecting with an invalid password key.