Wireless broadband help

slowen

Just set up wireless broadband router and need a couple of questions answered

1) with my normal ADSl broadband I had to type in a password everytime I connected to the internet buut now it automatically connects without any password prompt etc

2) when connecting my laptop via wireless it asks for a wep key to access the network so I presume it is secure so no-one else can access it?

3) on my desktop their is shortcut for my linksys router is this ok?

4) I cannot see any files on my PC for my router is this normal

Thanks in advance

MercilessKiller

1) this isn't a question (EDIT: Though if you mean is that normal.. yes it is. The router connects to the net 24 hours a day and you just use the routers internet connection if you like..)

2) that's right it is secure, unless you manage to give out your WEP key to everyone

3) the shortcut is fine. It is most probarbly a tutorial or self install file.. just ignore it

4) The router isn't anything to do with your PC. Its like its own little PC, thus you won't find anything to do with it on yours.

albertross_2

that's normal

wep is better than nothing, but not totally secure. disabling the ssid broadcast is also a good idea.

yes

yes

if you can, use a wpa key from here: https://www.grc.com/passwords

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471408&postcount=37

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471410&postcount=38

rogerramjet

1) Lynksys router (bet it was the PC world deal )you put your user name and password in the setup page of the router which will do the connecting for you.

2) Yes

3) Yes, but not needed

4) Yes

MercilessKiller

rogerramjet wrote:

Lynksys router (bet it was the PC world deal )

:S Linksys are one of the most popular brand of home networking tools. Most people I know use linksys and bought from amazon rather than PC World lol!

Maybe your a secret PC World lover? haha... either way what's the deal? :x

slowen

Sorry meant to put that their is no shortcut

rogerramjet

MercilessKiller wrote:

rogerramjet wrote:

Lynksys router (bet it was the PC world deal )

:S Linksys are one of the most popular brand of home networking tools. Most people I know use linksys and bought from amazon rather than PC World lol!

Maybe your a secret PC World lover? haha... either way what's the deal? :x

Currently selling the modem/router with PCMCIA wireless card (laptop) for £39.99 online, it's £79.99 in store

and to slowen, no there wouldn't be a shortcut beacuse the router connects automatically unlike some usb modems

slowen

Just making sure that everything was set up correctly as I don't want the hassle at a later date and to find out I had not set up correctly so someone else can use my connection

EDIT - Does the router stay connected to the internet permently even when the computer is switched off or does it activate everytime the PC is powered up as I presume I dont ever need to re-enter my old connection password

albertross_2

There are further security steps you can take if you want to make it "totally" secure.

Disable ssid broadcast, change ssid from default to something that doesn't identify you, change default password (I think the Linksys setup prompts you to do this), use wpa with a long 63 character random key, enable mac address filtering.

If you are happy with wep, then leave it as it is, but I'd disable the ssid broadcasting, as that will hide the routers existence from 99% of your neighbours, and is one checkbox.

slowen

albertross wrote:

There are further security steps you can take if you want to make it "totally" secure.

Disable ssid broadcast, change ssid from default to something that doesn't identify you, change default password (I think the Linksys setup prompts you to do this), use wpa with a long 63 character random key, enable mac address filtering.

If you are happy with wep, then leave it as it is, but I'd disable the ssid broadcasting, as that will hide the routers existence from 99% of your neighbours, and is one checkbox.

is the only advantage of disabling the SSID so that no-one in my street can see my PC, doo the instructions work with Linksys router as it only mentions netgear

albertross_2

if you broadcast the ssid, whenever the router is switched on, other windows users in your vicinity will get a popup saying wireless network available. If you turn the broadcasting off, that won't happen. If you've setup windows properly, then your PC will autoconnect to your ssid when it is available (see second half of the netgear instructions for the windows config).

The same principles of security apply to all routers, but the screens are different. If you go to 192.168.1.1 you should be able to turn the broadcasting off on one of the screens.

If you have left the default ssid as linksys, it also tells people the model, and they can then find out the default password. If you have changed the ssid to slowen or whatever, then they may be able to identify who you are and guess your wep password (if it is a family/pet name etc..)

You are fairly secure with it as it is, but still open to hackers if you have one in the street. Wep is crackable with Linux sniffing and cracking tools. As far as I'm aware WPA hasn't been cracked, provided that you choose a 63 character random key, and not a short word or name.