D-link wireless security

Gumbo

i set up my new router today, a d-link 524.
working perfect exceot when i do a wireless search i get my dlink router and three others, but on the 3 others it has in small letters underneath "secured network", where mine says "unsecured network"!!!

how do i set up a password?
i have searched for the last hour on now to do it but just cant find out how?

DemoniK

log onto the router.
You need to select the Home tab (default) and then the wireless button
You should see you're wireless settings, and there should be an option for "Security" which defaults to none.

To add security you need to change this to either one of WEP, WPA, WPA-PSK with WPA-PSK being the strongest security.
Pick the best one that is supported by ALL devices in your network.

Let's assume it's WEP for now - it's pretty similar for other types also
Change secruity to that option, and then you'll get a few more boxes to fill in.
Set WEP Encryption to the maximum size supported by ALL devices - prefereably min. 128bit.
Then you need to set the key Mode - you can either enter everything in HEX or ASCII. Select ASCII.
Finally you need to actually enter the key - similar to a password. For 128-bit WEP you need 13 characters. Lots of info out there on how to select difficult to crack passwords - for me I tend to think of a phrase and take the first character from each word, e.g.
"Reading posts on boards is quite fun, but takes time" gives me
"Rpobiqf,btt" which leaves me 2 short so adding some numbers for the month of the year gives me "Rpobiqf,btt12"

Hope that helps.

Gumbo

thanks very much RikD,

i have dont the wep set up that you described but now my computer cant find my ireless router.

im picking up ireless routes next door and that but not my on.

in the wireless option on the routers log in page where i pick a wep ket and that there is an option at the top of the page that says wireless, with an option to enable or disable it.

which one should i have it on?

thanks,
keith.

DemoniK

kceire wrote: »

in the wireless option on the routers log in page where i pick a wep ket and that there is an option at the top of the page that says wireless, with an option to enable or disable it.

make sure it's enabled.

Also
- ensure you've set the SSID to something unique.
- no sure what your client is, but sometimes updates load a US firmware which is limited to 11 channels, so ensure channel is below that (for now at least).
- ensure the SSID broadcast is on (Advanced->Performance->SSID boardcast)
- do you use mixture of b/g traffic - try setting the mode to g if only using g devices under Advanced->Performance->Wireless Mode
- try setting Authentication Type to just "Open System" under Advanced->Performance

just word of caution. Some client adaptors provide a "string" or passphrase for entering the WEP key - make sure it's the same as you used on the DI-524, i.e. ASCII or Hex.

Finally, when you do get it working - would suggest you look at MAC filtering. Looking at a downloaded copy of the manual - you can get all the info on page 25.

Gumbo

RikD wrote: »

make sure it's enabled.

Also
- ensure you've set the SSID to something unique.
- no sure what your client is, but sometimes updates load a US firmware which is limited to 11 channels, so ensure channel is below that (for now at least).
- ensure the SSID broadcast is on (Advanced->Performance->SSID boardcast)
- do you use mixture of b/g traffic - try setting the mode to g if only using g devices under Advanced->Performance->Wireless Mode
- try setting Authentication Type to just "Open System" under Advanced->Performance

just word of caution. Some client adaptors provide a "string" or passphrase for entering the WEP key - make sure it's the same as you used on the DI-524, i.e. ASCII or Hex.

Finally, when you do get it working - would suggest you look at MAC filtering. Looking at a downloaded copy of the manual - you can get all the info on page 25.

rik, im afraid im lost with all that

but its currently working now, wirelessly!
and when i do a search for any networks mine is listed as a secured one so im assuming im ok????

i kinda understand the mac filtering thing, as im only using the one laptop in the house, would you still recommend limiting the access to the routr to one computer as in mine, therefore only my laptop can connect and hence no security worries???

now to be honest im not protecting anything on the computer, all i have is a laptop for internet use (personal) and i do autocad work so that would be my main concern, losing all my previous jobs (i know i should back them up externally!) ohh yeah, and my music!! LOL

thanks for your help so far, really appreciate it

DemoniK

kceire wrote: »

rik, im afraid im lost with all that

Not to worry

i kinda understand the mac filtering thing, as im only using the one laptop in the house, would you still recommend limiting the access to the routr to one computer as in mine, therefore only my laptop can connect and hence no security worries???

Definitely recommend it - the purpose is to stop (or slow down) anyone else from getting onto your network. While mac filtering isn't 100% it does make it that little bit more difficult for ppl.

now to be honest im not protecting anything on the computer, all i have is a laptop for internet use (personal) and i do autocad work so that would be my main concern, losing all my previous jobs (i know i should back them up externally!) ohh yeah, and my music!! LOL

There are 2 main reasons to secure the network - first, as you point out if you must protect some info on the network, but sounds like that's not a problem for you. The second is that you need to protect your internet connnection from malicous use like a) using up your bandwidth limits, b) downloading illegal material via your connection (it's very difficult to prove you didn't do it) or c) using your connection to attack other computers, send spam etc.
All in all - highly recommend you put what ever measures you can to prevent others getting onto your network.

thanks for your help so far, really appreciate it

You're welcome - that's the point of these forums.