How do I secure an already established wireless network?

Question

I have 3 Dell computers-one desktop, on which I have a wireless router, and two laptops, both Latitude D600's.  I set up a wireless network using my D-Link wireless router, and everything works fine, but the router's instructions were poor, and instructed me to accept the 'default' name for the network, and it shows up as 'unsecured' on the available wireless networks.  Obviously, this is not good.  Is there a way to retroactively secure this network, or do I have to set up another one, and scrap this one?  I know I should have it as a WPA network, and I think it's WEP.

volcano11 · Answer

You don't have to scrap anything, just set up or modify the settings.   For information on how to secure your wireless network, see the following:   http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/bowman_05february10.mspx http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277020,00.asp   Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Go into your router configuration and set up the security settings how you want them as per the instructions in the sites I provided.  Then, on each computer that will access the router wirelessly, open Network Connections, right click your wirleess connection, select Properties, then click on the Wireless Networks tab.  Find the wireless network associated with your router, select it, then click on the Properties button and change the security settings so they are consistent with those set up on your router.   Steve

kirbybear · Answer

Thanks, Steve,   I read these articles, and it seems like all of them tell a person how to set up a secured network initially, but is there anything that will tell me literally where to go and the mouse clicks to change just what I need to change or set to secure my network that is already working, but unsecured, to a WPA-secured network?  I'm very good at following instructions, and I'm not a novice or a dummy with computers, I just can't seem to find directions on where to go into my network and what exactly to change to secure it.

kirbybear · Answer

OK, I know how to go into the laptop network settings.  Where do I go to access router settings on my desktop?

volcano11 · Answer

That depends entirely on which wireless router you have.  Have your opened the users guide for your router?  On most routers, you open an a web browser and type in the ip address of the router in the address bar.  The ip address depends on the make and model of your router.   Steve

kirbybear · Answer

thanks-that's what I needed.  I now have a secure network!

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How do I secure an already established wireless network?

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