ChiefLover2004
asked on
Securing my wireless LAN from intrusion
I have a wireless LAN at home that utilizes a Linksys WRT54G wireless router as the hub.
I have a laptop and a desktop connected to the LAN. The desktop utilizes a D-Link DWL-520 (11b) network adapter and the laptop utilizes a DWL-620 (11b) cardbus network adapter.
The initial set up of my network was quick, simple and relatively painless, and I've been cruising along for about a month or so now. Lately however, I have succumbed to the paranoia imposed by friends and co-workers regarding signal instrusion.
I have successfully done the following to "lock down" my network without any problems:
1. Changed the router password.
2. Disabled SSID broadcasting.
3. Employed MAC filtering.
I've had problems doing the following:
1. Changing SSID from default. (The desktop does not find the new SSID and will not join the network.)
2. Enabled WEP encryption. (Should I create my own keys or allow for automatically-generated keys?)
I apologize for the lengthy question but I figure it's better to give too much information than not enough. Thanks!
I have a laptop and a desktop connected to the LAN. The desktop utilizes a D-Link DWL-520 (11b) network adapter and the laptop utilizes a DWL-620 (11b) cardbus network adapter.
The initial set up of my network was quick, simple and relatively painless, and I've been cruising along for about a month or so now. Lately however, I have succumbed to the paranoia imposed by friends and co-workers regarding signal instrusion.
I have successfully done the following to "lock down" my network without any problems:
1. Changed the router password.
2. Disabled SSID broadcasting.
3. Employed MAC filtering.
I've had problems doing the following:
1. Changing SSID from default. (The desktop does not find the new SSID and will not join the network.)
2. Enabled WEP encryption. (Should I create my own keys or allow for automatically-generated keys?)
I apologize for the lengthy question but I figure it's better to give too much information than not enough. Thanks!
SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Hi
As for ssid broadcasting turnning off dose not help security most all wireless card come utilitys that can see the ssid even if you turn off broadcasting, but it does make harder for your station to find the network. All ways make up wep
keys do not automatically generated keys(big security hole). Use at least 128 bit wep. It feel you need for max security use 156 bit wep it uses a rotating keys.
As for ssid broadcasting turnning off dose not help security most all wireless card come utilitys that can see the ssid even if you turn off broadcasting, but it does make harder for your station to find the network. All ways make up wep
keys do not automatically generated keys(big security hole). Use at least 128 bit wep. It feel you need for max security use 156 bit wep it uses a rotating keys.
SOLUTION
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You did not say what version of Windows you're using?
In the Windows Networking area--- look for the wireless network adapter. Click Properties, Advanced settings, then "view wireless networks". There you *add* a new wireless network (ssid). because you are not broadcasting the SSID, you need to MANUALLY add the new SSID to Windows. It won't see it automatically.
It's easy and safe to generate your own WEP keys. You should use at least 128-bit encryption, which will require 26 hex digits. You can manually create a simpe yet effective WEP key, example: 88888888886666444422220000