Need help securing Linksys Wireless (G) connection to XP SP2

We have a LinkSys G router. I need help determining which options to
use to secure it, both in Windows and in the Router's config. While I
know my way around Windows for the most part, wireless networking is not
something I am skilled with.
--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

WPA2 wireless security. Use a password to protect the router itself.
WPA2 can't be broken
WPA can be broken by a dictionary attack
WEP is unsafe and can be broken in less time than it takes to read
this message

setup the router first with a wired computer.

On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:54:17 -0500, Will Pittenger
<no-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>We have a LinkSys G router. I need help determining which options to
>use to secure it, both in Windows and in the Router's config. While I
>know my way around Windows for the most part, wireless networking is not
>something I am skilled with.
--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

Hi
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).
Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.
Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download
the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357
The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless
Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with
your Wireless hardware.
All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible
of one of the Wireless devices.
I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can
do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the
device with a better one.
Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -
http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Will Pittenger" <no-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OHE$(E-Mail Removed)...
> We have a LinkSys G router. I need help determining which options to use
> to secure it, both in Windows and in the Router's config. While I know my
> way around Windows for the most part, wireless networking is not something
> I am skilled with.
> --
> will 68 at mtco dot com
> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
> signatures)

The basic router was setup by the guy that installed our DSL. We just
need to secure it. I can access the router's config page from any
computer on the network.

Barb Bowman wrote:
> setup the router first with a wired computer.
>
> On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:54:17 -0500, Will Pittenger
> <no-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> We have a LinkSys G router. I need help determining which options to
>> use to secure it, both in Windows and in the Router's config. While I
>> know my way around Windows for the most part, wireless networking is not
>> something I am skilled with.
> --
>
> Barb Bowman
> MS-MVP
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
> http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

--
will 68 at mtco dot com
will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large signatures)

Linksys manual is available at www.linksys.com

Basically, you need to do the following:
1) Password protect web configuration page so no one can get in there (the
whole world knows Linksys default password - admin)

2) Enable WPA or WPA2 security (it's all in the manual) + encryption and
create a shared key which will be used by all wireless PCs/Notebooks to join
your network. Without the shared key, no PCs can join your wifi network.

3) <optional> Disable access to router's config page thru wireless
connection

Note: using words found in the dictionary as password/shared key isn't a
smart choice.

That's it.

"Will Pittenger" <no-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> The basic router was setup by the guy that installed our DSL. We just
> need to secure it. I can access the router's config page from any
> computer on the network.
>
> Barb Bowman wrote:
>> setup the router first with a wired computer.
>>
>> On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:54:17 -0500, Will Pittenger
>> <no-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> We have a LinkSys G router. I need help determining which options to
>>> use to secure it, both in Windows and in the Router's config. While I
>>> know my way around Windows for the most part, wireless networking is not
>>> something I am skilled with.
>> --
>>
>> Barb Bowman
>> MS-MVP
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx
>> http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
>
> --
> will 68 at mtco dot com
> will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com (use this address for large
> signatures)