Home Hub Security

MKwife

Just got our BT Home Hub!!

Can other people (say in my street for example) use my wireless from my Home Hub and if so how would I prevent this?

One of my neighbours cheerfully informed me (a week before we went "onlilne") that he could go on the internet with his PSP using other neighbours wireless! He also said he could see what people were looking at on their internet??!!!!

Please help!

MercilessKiller

You need to log onto the Hub's control panel and activate Wireless Security using something called WPA Encryption

Check your manual or CD Manual for more information on it.

It will mean there is a long passkey thats needed to access your wireless which you'll know, but no one else

MKwife

There is a WEP key on the back of the hub is this what you mean?

Cerro

As the person above suggested use WPA and not WEP. Although WPA is not yet supported by all ISPs and as its BT I wouldn't get my hopes up, in which case use WEP.

superscaper

Cerro wrote: »

Although WPA is not yet supported by all ISPs and as its BT I wouldn't get my hopes up, in which case use WEP.

Isn't it dependant on whether the actual hardware (router and connected devices/pcs) supports WPA and nothing to do with the ISP?

MercilessKiller

Hmmmm if there is a WEP key on the back of the hub one would assume its already been enabled :S:S:S:S But thast not the case if anyone can access it!!!!

Take a look at the setup of the hub and the manual

MercilessKiller

superscaper wrote: »

Isn't it dependant on whether the actual hardware (router and connected devices/pcs) supports WPA and nothing to do with the ISP?

I think its because its a BT supported hub thus may only have WEP.

Indeed though it depends on the manufacturer of the hardware, not the sponsor of it! So as long its a reputable hub, it will have WPA support! Especially if its new!

superscaper

MercilessKiller wrote: »

Indeed though it depends on the manufacturer of the hardware, not the sponsor of it! So as long its a reputable hub, it will have WPA support! Especially if its new!

Well that was my thought, even if BT have WEP set to default and don't help you switch to WPA unless they're using really outdated hardware the router should still be capable of it.

Cerro

Yeah that is what I thought too - but i've been told otherwise. Might just have been the setup of WPA rather than the use of it. I wouldn't know with home hubs or the boxes orange and the likes push out... but other routers, most definately will.

MercilessKiller

Ive never got a BT home hub, But i would assume its made by an external company and is BT branded!

i.e Sky dish out a Netgear router which is rebranded with Sky firmware etc..

As netgear support WPA, this can be activated etc....

MKwife

Thanks for all your feedback. However I am a bit confused....

I have logged onto the Hubs control panel and couldn't see anything saying WPA at all! I have not installed the Hub using CD as a few people have suggested on here that it is unneccessary as it runs better without BT's software.

My brother has just been round and has just tried to connect his PSP to the wireless and he was asked for the WEP key. So he typed this in and it works! This should mean that it would be the same for anyone else trying to use the wireless??? Do you think?