Trying to figure out WPA/WEP set-up

Question

All of this network, wireless stuff with the security issues and connectivity issues not only confuses me but frankly scares me.  I understand the necessity, but can't understand why, no matter where I search I can't find anyone or anything that will tell me in a simple way how to keep from poking myself in the eye before I do set up my network.      Here's my concern.  If I go in and set up a wireless network, (providing I can do that without lossing access to my internet connection once it is made secure) how do I ever get any other device onto the network?  For example,  Say my brother comes over to my house and just wants to use my wireless to connect to the internet.  Can we do that without some three hour ordeal of trying to fine tune some computer network frequency, in a manner of speaking?  Then say in three years I buy another computer and want to put it on the mynetwork.  Oops, what were the passphrases, etc.?  I just would like someone to give me a straight forward 'how to'  instead of 45 pages of text that deals with stuff I don't need to know yet and one page that kind of tells me how to do just enough to shot myself in the foot.     1.How to set up a secure wireless net work?     2.How to connect  regular users to that network?     3.How to add or make net work (especially secure wireless) available to selected part time users that are just connecting to the internet?     4.How to find passphrases and necessary information on my main computer so that if information is lost or forgotten I can undo or redo it?       Is this too hard to ask?  Anyone that can help me?

jmwills · Answer

This article is a litle dated, so substitute WPA for WEP for the latest security measures:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277020,00.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/bowman_wirelesssecurity.mspx

klbf · Answer

i had wep working breifly, but want to set wpa since its a lot better... and when ever i try to set it up on my router i get privacy setting cannot have multiple SSID's i set the laptop with the usb adapter to the same ssid and also when i scan for wireless connections it shows my pc but it said no encryption is on it, when i entered a 63 digit max wpa psk string password..... anyone got a d link router and this ussue??? why it willn't set a password so my connection isn't open thanks

Dimension 8300,
P4 2.80GHz 800MHz w/HT
1GB PC3200
Sparkle 6600GT oc
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (retail)
Seagate SATA 120,160, USB2 external 200GB
NEC DVD+RW ND-2100AD, Pioneer 16x DVD+/-RW DL DVR-109, HP usb CD-Writer+ 8200
15inch LCD
D-link DSL-G604T Router & D-link DWL-G122 wirless adapter
HP deskjet 3550
BearPaw 2400TA
USB 2.0 tv tuner, Wacom graphire3 4x5inch, PCI Cooler | 80mm hdd fan
Benchmarks 3dmark03 8446...3dmark05 3498..3dmark06???...PCmark05 3448

jmwills · Answer

Answers:

#4: None of those passwords are stored anywhere on your system that you can interept (it is encrypted). My suggestion would be to make a Text or Word File and save it in your Documents folder.

#3: Part time users should be considered the same as full time users. Add and delete user accounts as needed or filter by MAC address.

#2: Same as #3. Control access thru user accounts and MAC addresses.

bronzeloch · Answer

In response to my post I have recieved the articles that everyone refers you to.  They are alright at helping you with the initial set up but that only answers question one of my post then I am left with a non functional system for my needs and future concerns.  At this point answering questions 2,3,4 are the most important for me to have answers to if I am to have a secure system because it is to frustrating to set something up that just makes your life miserable because you just locked yourself out of your own network.  So where are the answers for these questions.       2.How to connect  regular users to that network?     3.How to add or make net work (especially secure wireless) available to selected part time users that are just connecting to the internet?     4.How to find passphrases and necessary information on my main computer so that if information is lost or forgotten I can undo or redo it?

klbf · Answer

just a suggestion, set it up in internet explorer i had issues with firefox and my router it seems

Dimension 8300,
P4 2.80GHz 800MHz w/HT
1GB PC3200
Sparkle 6600GT oc
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (retail)
Seagate SATA 120,160, USB2 external 200GB
NEC DVD+RW ND-2100AD, Pioneer 16x DVD+/-RW DL DVR-109, HP usb CD-Writer+ 8200
15inch LCD
D-link DSL-G604T Router & D-link DWL-G122 wirless adapter
HP deskjet 3550
BearPaw 2400TA
USB 2.0 tv tuner, Wacom graphire3 4x5inch, PCI Cooler | 80mm hdd fan
Benchmarks 3dmark03 8446...3dmark05 3498..3dmark06 1821...PCmark05 3448

NemesisDB · Answer

Bronze,

your system is either secure or it isn't. while you could setup a seperate unencyrpted access point for your friends, you'd just be putting your entire network at risk. pick or generate a WPA passphrase (at least 20 random characters is preferable). write it down somewhere -- your biggest risk is from people outside your physical location. If you lose it, no big deal. You can always hard reset the router or connect via a wire to reset the password. You change it to something new and then update it on your clients and off you go.

as for your friends, either trust them with the passphrase and let them onto the network or don't. change it occassionally if it's a concern

bronzeloch · Answer

Thanks Nemesis  at least you have addressed my issues directly.  I am still not really sure if I understand how to do all of that , the set up part I mean.  And saving the passphrase is a good idea but is there any thing you can do if you have lost or it your saved stuff gets deleted.  Just trying to cover all of my bases if you know what I mean.  this is something I would really like to understand before I jump into the wizard and start filling in blanks without really knowing what the end result will be.  Can't afford to be with out internet while I try to figure what I filled in wrong if it will even let me.

NemesisDB · Answer

bronze, the passphrase will be needed on clients for them to establish a *wireless* connection. once entered into a client, it will generally remained stored. still, it is a good idea to write down the passphrase or save it in a file.

if for some reason you lose or forget the passphrase, you have a couple of options. you can log into the router over a *wired* connection and enter a new passphrase. you can also press the reset button on the router which will return it to a factory-shipped state and reset all options (including the passphrase) to their default value.

klbf · Answer

you can also use password managers, easy enough and secure

bronzeloch · Answer

Nemesis,

bronzeloch · Answer

Nemesis,

bronzeloch · Answer

Nemesis,

Thanks again, this is exactly what I have been wondering. Where do you have to go in windows XP professional in order to reassign a pass phrase? Are there any hangups or side steps that you have to take where you don't have the original pass phrase?

NemesisDB · Answer

you right click the wireless network icon and click view available networks.  you click the network you want.  it prompts for the passphrase.  if it doesn't work, you can type in a new one.  it's very simple

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Trying to figure out WPA/WEP set-up

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