My unsecured wireless (Wireless Newb!)

[jupiter57]

Just got into Wireless at home a couple of weeks ago, signed up for a package deal that included a free DSL Wireless Gateway. (AT&T)
It came with no instructions save hooking it up, nothing on how to enable WEP, etc.
I've noticed that sometimes my 3 MBS connection slows terribly & I'd like to know if is just my connection, or if someones using it causing it to slow.
Is there any way to see if anyone else is connected?

Any insight on how to secure the network?

 

[covert24]

in some routers you can see connected MAC addresses. look up your router on google and get the specs to see if it has this feature. To check this: Look on your network card that you are using to connect to the internet and find its MAC address (Usually on a label stuck to the card itself or you can type ipconfig in a cmd prompt and look at it), after you recorded the MAC address that corresponds to your computer match it up with the list the router gives you and see if there are any unauthorized ppl connected.

note= google your router and in the search include ip address and/or default password so you can get into it. the usual username/password on routers is blank for the username and "admin" (without parenthesis) for the password.

 

[JackMDS]

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's 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.

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

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html