securing wired and wirelss PC's

bonzo · 30 Jul 2008 at 04:47

Hi, just recently got BeThere Value Wireless ADSL for myself and housemate. I have an older PC with WinXP SP2, and she uses a modern ( Acer ) laptop with Wireless built in and VISTA

Since i'm the one with the modem right next to my PC, and the fact that i only have an older style Net card, i'm wired to the router. Her downstairs is Wireless.

When i was setting it all up, i had what i think was a secure WEP key code printed on some of the vast amount of paper that comes with the BeThere kit , though now i cant be certain because the paperwork has gone somewhere ( could still be in the house though ) and i dont know how to check that i DID type in this key when setting up.

Regardless of this, should i re-do all the security using WPA-PSK ? And even though i'm not using Wireless on MY computer, do i still have to type in the same key as would be used for her downstairs ??

Security wise, i'm a tad green, as this is the first time i've had a proper Wireless modem.

If anyone has a decent link to any help /guide on how to set security on these 2 different setups ( one PC wired, running WinXP SP ....one Lappie wireless, running VISTA )

THang yow !

AbsenceJam · 30 Jul 2008 at 05:05

Yes, change to WPA, you can change the key as well if you want to. It only relates to wireless, not wired connections.

hp7909 · 30 Jul 2008 at 05:22

If you can access the router/modem config page (i.e. something like 192.168.1.1), the WEP keys should be shown there. What router/modem is it?

WEP should suffice for a home wireless setup

tolien · 30 Jul 2008 at 10:48

The WEP key the BeBox came with is printed on the bottom, though WEP is completely useless for any setup...

You don't have to use WEP/WPA et al if you don't use wireless. The encryption only applies to the wireless.

TheVoice · 30 Jul 2008 at 10:50

I'm fairly sure the BeBox comes with WPA as default, unless they've changed it since I was with Be.

bonzo · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:32

hp7909 said:
If you can access the router/modem config page (i.e. something like 192.168.1.1), the WEP keys should be shown there. What router/modem is it?

WEP should suffice for a home wireless setup

Hi - tried that and the page just remains blank for eternity. Modem is a THOMSON.

tolien · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:36

The default IP is 192.168.1.254.

bonzo · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:36

tolien said:
The WEP key the BeBox came with is printed on the bottom, though WEP is completely useless for any setup...

You don't have to use WEP/WPA et al if you don't use wireless. The encryption only applies to the wireless.

heavens - never thought of looking under the box!!

There's an SSID number ...a WEP number... a WPS PSK number. I guess i must have initiated one of those numbers upon first set up, but which, i dont know.

All i'm after really is to stop other people near enough to me piggy backing off my connection.

So i dont need to set WEP / WPA on my PC ? Thats good news - so just on the Laptop then

tolien said:
The default IP is 192.168.1.254.

Thanks T ..just got on there. What am i looking for mate ??

bonzo · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:45

OK i've found it. Its WPA PSK enabled, and the number is visible to me now that i've navigated around the Modem/Config site.

WPA-PSK Preshared Key: *******
WPA-PSK Encryption: TKIP+AES
WPA-PSK Version: WPA+WPA2

Cheers and thanks all !!!