Password / security for wireless.

[saturdaygig]

I just added a Belkin access point to my wired network (as suggested by Tuttle) to add a wireless network. Went like a dream, but there's no password on the wireless network, and I don't know if there's other security I should be worried about. Anyone know about this? My wired router is a sweex.

[jdc2000]

If your Belkin has WPA capability (it should if it is new), you should use that security protocol to prevent unauthorized access to your internet connection and network. WEP has been cracked. Your user manual should have instructions on setting this up, or let us know what questions you have on that.

[saturdaygig]

If your Belkin has WPA capability (it should if it is new), you should use that security protocol to prevent unauthorized access to your internet connection and network. WEP has been cracked. Your user manual should have instructions on setting this up, or let us know what questions you have on that.

It does, thanks for that. Tucked away in settings but present and correct. I opted for PSK security with an obscure password.

[jdc2000]

If your wireless connections are working with WPA, you should be all set.

[HAN]

If you want an excellent 63 character password for your WPA password, go to Gibson Research https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm Keep in mind that if you max out the password to 63 characters, your security will be at the highest it can be.

I use the 63 random printable ASCII characters version (note that each time you refresh the page, new passwords are generated.)

I copy the password into a new .TXT document, save it and keep it handy on a flash drive. Then if my laptop or router needs the password again for any reason, I can copy and paste it again.

[saturdaygig]

Phew, how much effort is it going to be punching that into 2 nintendo DSs, a PSP, an xbox 360, 3 pcs, an ipod touch and 4 phones. Secure yes, but too much work.

[Tuttle]

Long is more important than complex. If you can find a few words that make some sense to you but aren't valid English, you're off to a pretty good start.

[HAN]

Yes, it's a bit of effort. But it all depends on whether or not being hacked is a concern. I have a friend that lives back a very long lane and he runs his wireless open. And IMO, it's fine because his home is so isolated.

But if I lived in a more typical neighborhood, I'd run the security as high as I could go. Especially if I used it for anything financial or personal. Running WEP under this situation is flat out wrong as it's hackable in seconds. Lately, from what I read, WPA has also become hackable if ran with less than a long password. Which is why I use (and recommend) the full 63 characters available.

Of courser, WPA2 is now the best commonly available encryption for consumer grade equipment. But not all wireless adaptors can support it.

[Tuttle]

Lately, from what I read, WPA has also become hackable if ran with less than a long password. Which is why I use (and recommend) the full 63 characters available.

It's always been vulnerable in that case, the same way that short Windows passwords and short encryption keys in zip files are vulnerable -- brute force attacks. As far as I know, there are no known problems in the WPA algorithm like there are in WEP.