Wireless Router

[mbr_own]

Hey; how easy is a wireless router to set up? My laptop has Bluetooth, but is it worth investing �60 or whatever in a wireless connection. Has anyone had any problems setting them up?

Thanks a lot,

Michael

[fo3nix]

well you'd need a wireless adapter for your laptop too, as well as a wireless router (if it hasnt got one built-in).

they're very easy to install. just make sure you secure them properly (a few clicks and typing on your behalf, doesn't complicate things any more really).

[mbr_own]

This is the thing, some of my friends connect themselves to other people's wireless connections and off they go. I don't fancy the thought of someone slowing my connection, narrowing my band, and God knows what sites they might go on.

[b0shb4ll]

It�s easy to restrict access to a wireless router. You do this using MAC addresses. All computer devices have a Mac address. You simply program your router to only allow the Mac addresses of your computers..

Simple...

[agnabeya]

The setting up of the connection - is a few clicks and typing in info -
just like when you set up your ISP with your modem.

At some point in the set-up - a decent router will ask you if you wish to set encryption. I chose the WEP 128 bit myself -
it created it - I entered a password - and that was me.

I wrote down the 26 digit code the router set up - keep it handy just in case you need it.

Then go to this site

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

and run throught he stealth testing with your computer.
It will indicate how secure you are.

[birdie1971]

I've just bought a wireless router too. After reading several articles on security, you should always do the following.

Change the default password on the router so only you can change the setting on it.

Rename the SSID to something unique and disable SSID broadcasting.

Enable encryption. WPA is much better than WEP as WEP has well known security issues and a determined hacker can crack WEP. Always use WPA.

You can use MAC address filtering, but it's not a very secure method as MAC addresses can be easily faked.

Good luck!