Network password

Hello. I have home network setup using Linksys. Wireless connection with a
laptop shows someone outside of my network on my network with a lock on his
profie. Does this mean he/she has access to my network along with the PCs on
it? How do I remedy this situation. Many thanks in advance!

In article <E304F904-A073-448C-9147-(E-Mail Removed)>, Chris
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Hello. I have home network setup using Linksys. Wireless connection with a
>laptop shows someone outside of my network on my network with a lock on his
>profie. Does this mean he/she has access to my network along with the PCs on
>it? How do I remedy this situation. Many thanks in advance!

I'm not sure what you're describing, but I suspect that it's a list of
the available wireless networks. If so, it's probably telling you
that one of your neighbors has a wireless network, and that the
network is encrypted (requires a network key to connect). That
doesn't mean that anyone has access to your network.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm

Steve thanks for the kind reply! Does this mean that he sees my network also?
Does he have access to my network? I say that because I have no password on
mine. It has been a while now, how do I create a password for the network so
that every pc upon getting to the network signing in?

"Steve Winograd [MVP]" wrote:

> In article <E304F904-A073-448C-9147-(E-Mail Removed)>, Chris
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >Hello. I have home network setup using Linksys. Wireless connection with a
> >laptop shows someone outside of my network on my network with a lock on his
> >profie. Does this mean he/she has access to my network along with the PCs on
> >it? How do I remedy this situation. Many thanks in advance!
>
> I'm not sure what you're describing, but I suspect that it's a list of
> the available wireless networks. If so, it's probably telling you
> that one of your neighbors has a wireless network, and that the
> network is encrypted (requires a network key to connect). That
> doesn't mean that anyone has access to your network.
> --
> Best Wishes,
> Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
>
> Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
> for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
> addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
>
> Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>
> Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
> http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm
>

In article <6E2D7127-B350-4413-ACEA-(E-Mail Removed)>, Chris
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> >Hello. I have home network setup using Linksys. Wireless connection with a
>> >laptop shows someone outside of my network on my network with a lock on his
>> >profie. Does this mean he/she has access to my network along with the PCs on
>> >it? How do I remedy this situation. Many thanks in advance!
>>
>> I'm not sure what you're describing, but I suspect that it's a list of
>> the available wireless networks. If so, it's probably telling you
>> that one of your neighbors has a wireless network, and that the
>> network is encrypted (requires a network key to connect). That
>> doesn't mean that anyone has access to your network.
>
>Steve thanks for the kind reply! Does this mean that he sees my network also?
>Does he have access to my network? I say that because I have no password on
>mine. It has been a while now, how do I create a password for the network so
>that every pc upon getting to the network signing in?

You're welcome, Chris. If you can see your neighbor's network, your
neighbor can probably see your network and connect to it.

Your wireless router's user manual should have information on how to
enable encryption and define a network key. Use the strongest type of
encryption that your equipment supports. From weakest to strongest,
the common encryption types are:

64-bit WEP
128-bit WEP
WPA
WPA2

If your computer runs Windows Me, it might not have WPA or WPA2. In
that case, use 128-bit WEP.

This web page should help:

4 steps to set up your home wireless network
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/more...lesssetup.mspx
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm