Help me make my wireless network more secure.

GSDog

GSDog

GSDog

Soldato
Joined
12 Jun 2004
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Exeter
Hi all.

I am trying to make my wireless network more secure and need your help.

I have a Linksys WAG354G router.

At the moment it has 128bit WEP Encryption, but I have been told WPA is more secure?
But in my router settings under "Security mode", I can only set "Disable", "Pre-shared Key", or "WEP", I don't see the option to use WPA.
However, in my Intel PROset software, it does give the option of Enterprise security which includes WPA and WPA2, but I guess my router does not support WPA?

Another problem I am having is the SSID. At the moment it is the default "linksys", so this obviously needs to be changed, but the PROset wireless software is having trouble changing the SSID and wont connect, or sometimes wont even let me change the default!!...
Basically, I click on "properties", then change the SSID to whatever I want, then when I click "Connect" it comes up with the properties page again but with the old SSID "linksys" and it wont let me change it...

Also, If I disable SSID broadcast the wireless network doesn't work, even if all the network has the same SSID.

This is really confusing me, all I want to do is stop broadcasting my SSID, and to change the default SSID to something else, but if I do this, the network stops working.
 
The Wireless Security Tab

The Wireless Security settings configure the security of your wireless network. There are two wireless security
options supported by the Gateway: WPA Pre-Shared Key and WEP. (WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access, which
is a security standard stronger than WEP encryption. WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy.) These are briefly
discussed here. For detailed instructions on configuring wireless security for the Gateway, turn to “Appendix B:
Wireless Security.” If you want to disable wireless security, select Disable from the drop-down menu for Security
Mode.
WPA Pre-Shared Key. Enter a WPA Shared Key of 8-32 characters. Then enter a Group Key Renewal period, which
instructs the Gateway how often it should change the encryption keys.
Click to expand...

If you can lose the Intel software and just connect through Windows Wireless Config, and set it to automatically connect to your network, that way it'll work with SSID broadcast off.
 
Last edited:
That router does support WPA and WPA2. I don't own one myself but from looking at the manual there should be a "WPA Pre-Shared Key" option under the wireless tab. Once you've got WPA/WPA2 enabled you don't even need to bother hiding your SSID as when most, if not all, wannabe hackers see it's WPA secured they won't even bother trying.
 
Phemo said:
That router does support WPA and WPA2. I don't own one myself but from looking at the manual there should be a "WPA Pre-Shared Key" option under the wireless tab. Once you've got WPA/WPA2 enabled you don't even need to bother hiding your SSID as when most, if not all, wannabe hackers see it's WPA secured they won't even bother trying.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies.

I am quite fed up with the Intel software, so I will now uninstall it and just use the Windows software.
I also just looked through the manual and you are right, it does look like it is WPA enabled. However, I can only see "Pre-Shared Key", is this WPA?
The fireware is quite old, so many if I upgrade that it might help?
 
PSK is WGA. As said once you have WGA enabled most hackers will not even bother and look at your neighbors connection. TO be even more secure do not use words out of a dictionary and keep it long with alphanumerical digits.
 
OK, thanks.

I have just enabled MAC filtering, it worked fine on my computer, but on my brothers it didn't seem to connect.
I switched to Windows wireless, instead of using the Intel software and this strange thing happened.
Look at the screenshot, as you can see at the top right of the Linksys screen it says "NOT connected" and the icon in the taskbar also says NOT connected - but the network is working fine... I have just sent files from his PC to mine and the internet is working OK.

Is this some kind of bug? :confused:

 
out of interest, what software could i use to see if anyone is using my connection while im wireless? Any good suggestions?
 
yeah there is, but im wondering if there is any other software for monitoring the network.

Is there any way of reducing the range of your wifi?
 
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