Wireless security

cherry76

Just got a computer from a friend and she has set it wireless. I asked her about making it secured. She told all I need is the wireless network key and it is secured unless somebody know this key they cannot access the network. Is she correct, I thought I had to change the network key once I have logged in? I am connected using WPA 2. Thanks

tronator

cherry76 wrote: »

Just got a computer from a friend and she has set it wireless. I asked her about making it secured. She told all I need is the wireless network key and it is secured unless somebody know this key they cannot access the network. Is she correct, I thought I had to change the network key once I have logged in? I am connected using WPA 2. Thanks

If you're connected using WPA2, then everything is fine already. You set up the encryption on your wireless router and your computer connects to it using the key specified in the router. Or did I misunderstood your question?

EvilScotsman

Your friend is mostly correct; if the wireless network has been configured so that you need to enter a password to connect then it is secured. That doesn't mean that a determined hacker couldn't crack the password.

cherry76 wrote: »

I thought I had to change the network key once I have logged in?

Once you've set the password required to join the wireless network you don't need to change it once you've logged in. You're maybe thinking of the password for the router itself? Most routers come with a default username and password, which are labelled on the bottom. For example with Netgear the username is admin and the password is password. Not changing that is a security risk because many people know these details.

cherry76

tronator wrote: »

If you're connected using WPA2, then everything is fine already. You set up the encryption on your wireless router and your computer connects to it using the key specified in the router. Or did I misunderstood your question?

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I did not set up any encryption on the wireless router. I connected using the network key provided by sky, I thought I need to change that but do not know how!! Thanks

trets77

okay the computer you now have that was your friends ( have i got this right / ) will see your router and ask you for the network key for your Sky router .

if your connected to your Sky router wirelessly and the security is showing as WPA2 then , yes it's secure... to a point .

If the network key that was set by Sky is something really simple like "Password" or "Default" then you are at risk as it could easily be guessed .

if you decide to change the network key of the router , then you would need to find out how to access the routers manager ( usually be being connected to it and typing an web address into your browser ) .

you routers manager should also be user name and password protected . if it is not , or it set to something default like

User name : Admin
Password : pass

then you are again at risk , no matter how good your Network key is because people could easily access you hub manager and find your network key .