Ho do I make my wireless network "secure"?

[CanuckAmok]

On XP, that is.

I did it once, a while ago, and now I can't remember what I did ;/

[Betty88]

1. best thing to do is look up the user guide...

for your router on the internet. Usually its a simple setup.

[kay1864]

2. Or try the Help file for your network software

Should be something on security in there.

[sir_captain]

3. You have to turn on encryption in your router

Go to your router manufacturer's website and they should have step-by-step directions for your particular model of router. It is generally a pretty simple thing to do.

[deucemagnet]

4. Are you talking about encryption?

IIRC, I set that up when I first set up the network, and I haven't had to change it since. If you're talking about ping blocking or firewalls, those settings are easily changed. I don't know about your wireless router, but on mine you get to the setup utility by going 192.168.2.1 in any browser.

[YankeyMCC]

5. Put wires in it

:) Just kidding.

You want to at Least turn on WEP - although this will just stop the causual sniffer. You really need to turn on WPA-2 however, you might find that if your router is far from your computer you'll experience link drops.

Take a look at your router help. You need to encrypt the data.

You also may want to restrict which or how many computers can connect to your router, this will help prevent people highjacking your internet connection. Assuming your router will also serve as you DHCP server you can assign valid MAC addresses (the hardware address of your computer network interface cards) or you could just limit the number of computers that can be on it, less secure but easier and perhaps enough.

[mainegreen]

6. surround your house with tinfoil. It blocks the internet rays.

[Richardo]

7. Who are you calling a 'ho'?

:grr:

[datasuspect]

8. affirm and validate it.

give it gentle reminders that it too has innate value and worth.

[cobalt1999]

9. or leave it unsecured, if you're downloading music w/o paying.

The one defense that has consistently worked against RIAA, is the claim that someone else could have done it off my unsecured network. Not that you are doing that...

[CanuckAmok]

10. Unlicensed downloading is legal here.

Good ol' Canuckistan.

The problem is that when I engage the WEP, the signal "kicks me off" every few minutes and forces me to log on again.

Not only that, but whenever I get booted off, my connection defaults to the pay-web service of the Marriot Hotel, which is right next door.