please help!

ilovegreatdanes

hi,
i have just got a new laptop which is on wifi and saw a prog somewhere that told you which stuff to press so that you were not visible to everyone else in the near vicinity, so they couldnt use your broadband.it was some icon in the security section of the laptop.system is windows vista on an hp 6720 i think.its protected by norton(i know!!)
you will be able to see from all the tech terms used that i am not very comp savvy so please can you explain in very simple steps.:o
i am very grateful for all advice as i know you lot on here are really knowledgeable in all things technical.
many thanks.ilgd

Browntoa

it's an option in the wireless router you are using to connect to the internet

hide your SSID

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/quicktip1/qt/qtwifinossid.htm

way to protect your network from unauthorized access is to hide the fact that you have a wireless network at all. By default, wireless network equipment typically broadcasts a beacon signal, announcing its presence to the world and providing key information necessary for devices to connect to it, including the SSID.

The SSID (service set identifier), or network name, of your wireless network is required for devices to connect to it. If you don't want random wireless devices to connect to your network, then you certainly don't want to announce your presence and include one of the key pieces of information they need to do so.
By disabling the broadcasting of the SSID, or even the beacon signal itself, you can hide the presence of your wireless network or at least obscure the SSID itself which is critical for a device to connect to your network.

Refer to the owner's manual for your specific wireless access point or router to learn how to access the configuration and administration screens and disable the beacon signal or the broadcasting of the SSID.

ilovegreatdanes

btw...can anyone tell me why my comp and my laptop would go on the net at the same time?one knocks the other off so dh bought a wireless g usb adaptor that they said would make the main comp wireless so both would work and the prob be cured but it hasnt worked so i dont want to keep throwin good money away....dont mind spendin on the right thing, iykwim.
thanks again.
ilgd

ilovegreatdanes

Browntoa wrote: »

it's an option in the wireless router you are using to connect to the internet

hide your SSID

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/quicktip1/qt/qtwifinossid.htm

way to protect your network from unauthorized access is to hide the fact that you have a wireless network at all. By default, wireless network equipment typically broadcasts a beacon signal, announcing its presence to the world and providing key information necessary for devices to connect to it, including the SSID.

The SSID (service set identifier), or network name, of your wireless network is required for devices to connect to it. If you don't want random wireless devices to connect to your network, then you certainly don't want to announce your presence and include one of the key pieces of information they need to do so.
By disabling the broadcasting of the SSID, or even the beacon signal itself, you can hide the presence of your wireless network or at least obscure the SSID itself which is critical for a device to connect to your network.

Refer to the owner's manual for your specific wireless access point or router to learn how to access the configuration and administration screens and disable the beacon signal or the broadcasting of the SSID.

i have a netgear router and bb from aol.have looked in the booklet and cant find the stuff you said.
can i bring up a section on my l/top to do this stuff.....or should i fone aol and let them help???

Browntoa

if this is the model

http://help.aol.co.uk/configuring-the-netgear-dg834-modem-router/article/20070207102309990013

if you never changer the password then it's

• User Name: admin
• Password: password

you are looking for how to access your admin panel , it may say type something like

192.168.1.1

into internet explorer

millwalll

It's your ssid, you can usally change this by going to ip address, depending on what router you have it usally on the lines of 192.168.1.1 Also you should make sure you that you have set a username and password to log into this page. And make sure you security is WPA-PSK as wep can be hacked into very easy.

nomoneytoday

Netgear routers use either www.routerlogin.net or 192.168.0.1

ilovegreatdanes

thanks so much for takin the time to reply guys.i get so mad with myself cos i cant keep up with all this new tech stuff.have checked up and im fine and covered and the psk thing is ticked.
couldnt use both comp and l/top at same time cos they were same screename and i need a diff screen name for them.god its so simple when you know how.its the simple things that catch me though.
again, thanks.
ilgd x