Stupid question about router/network security

[junkerman123]

Hi,

I just got a buffalo WHR-HP-G54 router. I flashed it with tomato firmware, set everything up, it works great. I can connect to it with my laptop wirelessly perfectly, its very fast, no complaints. Only thing is, the network doesn't have a password. How do I protect it? The only thing I've been able to figure out is to add my laptop's MAC address to the allow list and not allow anything else...but that seems like overkill. Please help!

 

[LuDaCriS66]

use WPA encryption using a key generated here
http://www.yellowpipe.com/yis/.../WPA_key/generator.php

 

[junkerman123]

Originally posted by: LuDaCriS66
use WPA encryption using a key generated here
http://www.yellowpipe.com/yis/.../WPA_key/generator.php

anyone know where to do this in the tomato interface? also it seems like I can only do WEP in my windows wireless connection settings.

 

[JackMDS]

Windows get the Security settings from the Wireless card drivers, if the drivers ar capable to do WEP only look for updated drivers or get a new Wireless Card.

It the Router under the Wireless section pull down the security (last line in Wireless section.


From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC
WEP
WPA-PSK
WPA-AES
WPA2

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computers Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

WEP, WPA, and the Future - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html