Lost network connection...

Hi. I have a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router at my computer and a
Linksys Wireless-G 2.4 ghz USB Adapter connected to my wife's computer which
is in an adjacent room (we're both using WinXP Home). We've had this setup
for over a year now with no major problems.

Today when she logged on, the little network icon on the Taskbar suddenly
displayed a red x, with the message: Wireless Network Connection- Not
connected. My Internet connection is working fine and the usual lights are
lit on my router. I verified her adapter was firmly connected, then
double-clicked the network icon and in the Wireless Network Connection
window it said: "No wireless networks were found in range."

I clicked "Refresh Network List" and an item labeled "Unsecured wireless
network" appeared with a numerical name beginning with "05B403..." and an
option to connect.

When I set up my network I entered a name for it and "05B403..." was not it.
Something strange seems to be going on and I'd appreciate any advice.

silas

silas wrote:
> Hi. I have a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router at my computer and a
> Linksys Wireless-G 2.4 ghz USB Adapter connected to my wife's
> computer which is in an adjacent room (we're both using WinXP Home).
> We've had this setup for over a year now with no major problems.
>
> Today when she logged on, the little network icon on the Taskbar
> suddenly displayed a red x, with the message: Wireless Network
> Connection- Not connected. My Internet connection is working fine and
> the usual lights are lit on my router. I verified her adapter was
> firmly connected, then double-clicked the network icon and in the
> Wireless Network Connection window it said: "No wireless networks
> were found in range."

You might have lost control of your own router. Can you get to its web
interface any more? If not, it might have been hacked through lack of
security. What security measures did you implement on the router and
the wireless?

Otherwise, check the firewall on the laptop. Google for
winsockxpfix.exe to repair a damaged TCP/IP stack.

Q

"Quaoar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Ae6dncK2mbd_3f3eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> silas wrote:
>> Hi. I have a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router at my computer and a
>> Linksys Wireless-G 2.4 ghz USB Adapter connected to my wife's
>> computer which is in an adjacent room (we're both using WinXP Home).
>> We've had this setup for over a year now with no major problems.
>>
>> Today when she logged on, the little network icon on the Taskbar
>> suddenly displayed a red x, with the message: Wireless Network
>> Connection- Not connected. My Internet connection is working fine and
>> the usual lights are lit on my router. I verified her adapter was
>> firmly connected, then double-clicked the network icon and in the
>> Wireless Network Connection window it said: "No wireless networks
>> were found in range."
>
> You might have lost control of your own router. Can you get to its web
> interface any more? If not, it might have been hacked through lack of
> security. What security measures did you implement on the router and the
> wireless?
>
> Otherwise, check the firewall on the laptop. Google for winsockxpfix.exe
> to repair a damaged TCP/IP stack.
>
> Q
>
>

I have the XP and McAfee firewall on but I haven't changed any settings. I
also have WEP on my network (it was recommended for security but I'm not
real clear on what it does). I'll try the winsockxpfix.exe.

silas

silas wrote:
> "Quaoar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Ae6dncK2mbd_3f3eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> silas wrote:
>>> Hi. I have a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router at my computer and
>>> a Linksys Wireless-G 2.4 ghz USB Adapter connected to my wife's
>>> computer which is in an adjacent room (we're both using WinXP Home).
>>> We've had this setup for over a year now with no major problems.
>>>
>>> Today when she logged on, the little network icon on the Taskbar
>>> suddenly displayed a red x, with the message: Wireless Network
>>> Connection- Not connected. My Internet connection is working fine
>>> and the usual lights are lit on my router. I verified her adapter
>>> was firmly connected, then double-clicked the network icon and in
>>> the Wireless Network Connection window it said: "No wireless
>>> networks were found in range."
>>
>> You might have lost control of your own router. Can you get to its
>> web interface any more? If not, it might have been hacked through
>> lack of security. What security measures did you implement on the
>> router and the wireless?
>>
>> Otherwise, check the firewall on the laptop. Google for
>> winsockxpfix.exe to repair a damaged TCP/IP stack.
>>
>> Q
>>
>>
>
> I have the XP and McAfee firewall on but I haven't changed any
> settings. I also have WEP on my network (it was recommended for
> security but I'm not real clear on what it does). I'll try the
> winsockxpfix.exe.
> silas

Check the router's DHCP client table and verify that every connected MAC
address should be there. What I meant by "lost control of your own
router" means that it is possible that someone has hacked the wireless
and is now in control of the router. In any event, to help to secure
your router and wireless: Change the WEP key; change the default
username and password on the router, change the router's default IP
address block (192.168.1.1 to 192.168.xyz.1 where xy is 001 to 255),
invoke MAC address filtering.

We don't see reports of routers being hacked here, but you can't be too
careful.

Q