What is my 'Network Key'?

Mrs_pbradley936

Please forgive me if you think I am a bit thick, but unless you are GCHQ or Barclays Bank why do you need high level security which only seems to cause problems? I have a 13 letter and number password on mine and it was the address my grandmother had when I was a child, so easy to remember for me but hard to guess for someone else. I would say my internet usage was fairly standard in that I buy things using a credit card (also use verified by Visa) and I use internet banking. I also have up to date anti virus and firewall. Why would I benefit by using a 63 digit random password and if I would not benefit why bother?

albertross_2

Because wpa can be cracked, the longer and more random the key the harder it is to crack. Whether your password is easy to guess, is largely irrelevant, password cracking programs don't guess, they either use dictionary words, rainbow tables based on dictionary words, or try every combination. The odds are that your neighbours aren't interested, or capable in cracking your password, but you never know..

There is nothing difficult about going to https://www.grc.com/passwords copy, paste into router, paste into PC, job done in 20 seconds. and then you can forget about it. If you forget it, go back to grc.com and regenerate a new one, copy, 2 pastes, job done.

The problem with the OP, is that they have pasted it into the router password screen, instead of the wpa screen, so they can't get back into the router, without resetting it completely.

PS..

Internet banking using SSL is safe, because it is encrypted, it's more a matter of your privacy, and security of your connection, web browsing habits, emails, passwords, and files.

chuckles1066

pbradley936 wrote:

Please forgive me if you think I am a bit thick, but unless you are GCHQ or Barclays Bank why do you need high level security which only seems to cause problems? I have a 13 letter and number password on mine and it was the address my grandmother had when I was a child, so easy to remember for me but hard to guess for someone else. I would say my internet usage was fairly standard in that I buy things using a credit card (also use verified by Visa) and I use internet banking. I also have up to date anti virus and firewall. Why would I benefit by using a 63 digit random password and if I would not benefit why bother?

WPA is crackable and, in the scenario you describe above, your temporary directories will almost certainly contain sensitive financial information.

Also, your surfing history may well be available for viewing; imagine someone hacking your network and, for example, viewing a page called, say, "hmv.co.uk/orders/checkout".

They may find themselves logged into your account, all they have to do is click on something like "amend card details" and they'll probably be able to see the details of the card you just used to purchase those dvds!

Unlikely I know, but possible and for the sake of 20 seconds spent using a high strength password it isn't worth the risk :eek:

tcall

Back!

Couldnt reset the router, so had to phone tech support who said you gotta hold the button in for 30 seconds, rather than just pushing and releasing it.
Got everything connected again now and changed the WPA password to 63 digits.
Leaving Router login and password as is tho. My blood pressure can't take any more lol.

Thanks for your help guys

albertross_2

have you disabled the ssid broadcasting, and..

right click on your wireless network icon, view available wireless networks, change advanced settings, wireless networks, highlight your ssid, properties, connection. Make sure "connect when this network is in range" is ticked. Click OK, advanced, make sure Access point (Infrastrucure) networks only is selected, and automatically connect to non-preferred networks is unticked.


use the backup config function if you are worried about messing things up, then if it goes pear shaped, reset it, and browse to the file you saved.

chuckles1066

albertross wrote:

have you disabled the ssid broadcasting

An urban myth that "disabling" your router from broadcasting an SSID somehow makes your network more secure.

Don't hide the SSID. It provides no benefit (since the SSID isn't
really hidden) and it frequently causes problems (e.g., making your
neighbour's router more likely to accidentally jump on "your" channel).

Hiding it offers few security benefits and causes too many complications.

Your only real security is in the encryption, which should be WPA or WPA2.

albertross_2

We will have to disagree, it's not an urban myth..

if it doesn't broadcast, then the average person in the street won't even know it's there, which makes it more secure.

sco0ter

Even the basic Netgear connection utility can pick up on non broadcasting SSID.

sco0ter

You just select the find network button and it will scan and show networks without SSID but with a signal strength percentage. Although for some reason it will sometimes show the hidden SSID name for other routers (but never Netgear oddly enough)