Secure Wireless Options

[alreed]

Hi,
I just had to get a new wireless router for my cable modem and was wondering how to create a secure wireless network. Someone did it for me last time, but he's not in the country at the moment and I think I should work it out for myself by now anyway. If anyone could help with step-by step instructions, I'd be very grateful. At the moment I'm connected to the wireless fine, but everyone else could connect to it too and download stuff I don't have any say over. I've tried Network Setup but it says error when I try to get it to recognise a network I've just made, I so must be doing something wrong.

Thanks.

[lepetitmartien]

to repeat it again:

Keep the SSID hidden, change regularly your password, go for the safest (not meaning safeproof) encryptions, use the MAc address, even attribuate fixed IPs to the computers (DHCP with manual address) and a just sufficient IP range (not starting at 1 if possible).

If suddenly your router blinks of traffic and you are not surfing in any way or if you start to crawl for no reason*, unplug it, wait a little, then change the password and SSID.

(*note that it can be just due to the connection crawling, not the neighbour downloading)

I won't focus that much on this, as in my practice, I've been safe save once in 3 years. And by a guy trying to connect. Now it all depends on your neighbourhood.

Stick to a range of signal you need, no more. And unplug the thing if you can when you're not around…

If you're paranoid (but some have to) don't use important passwords and codes while in wireless (such as your credit card).

And if it goes you have really bad neighbours, get back to ethernet, it's faster and way way safer.