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wireless security

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jediobi1

Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2003
so i just got a wrt54gl router and am trying to secure it and i want to disable the ssid however im trying to figure out if theres a way for windows to auto connect to it when the computer is turned on does anyone have any ideas as my google searches are coming up short
 
so i just got a wrt54gl router and am trying to secure it and i want to disable the ssid however im trying to figure out if theres a way for windows to auto connect to it when the computer is turned on does anyone have any ideas as my google searches are coming up short

To answer your question, yes there is a way for Windows to auto-connect. Once your SSID is hidden and you can simply add a new network connection and manually type in the SSID (since it is not going to be on the list of wireless networks). After you are able to successfully connect to your wireless network, you can simply tell it to always connect when network is in range. What version of Windows are you using? I can try to give you specific details on how to do all of this if you want.

However, to actually SECURE your network, you should enable WPA or WPA2 (AES is better than TKIP) on your wireless network. Hiding your SSID only makes me spend 10 extra seconds....Keep in mind that the wireless security mode has to be supported on all of your wireless adapters, so use the highest one that is supported.
 
To answer your question, yes there is a way for Windows to auto-connect. Once your SSID is hidden and you can simply add a new network connection and manually type in the SSID (since it is not going to be on the list of wireless networks). After you are able to successfully connect to your wireless network, you can simply tell it to always connect when network is in range. What version of Windows are you using? I can try to give you specific details on how to do all of this if you want.

However, to actually SECURE your network, you should enable WPA or WPA2 (AES is better than TKIP) on your wireless network. Hiding your SSID only makes me spend 10 extra seconds....Keep in mind that the wireless security mode has to be supported on all of your wireless adapters, so use the highest one that is supported.

as this gentleman/gentlewoman said, hiding your SSID takes all of a few seconds longer to find and get onto.

WEP is essentially worthless as a security measure (really only there as a bandaid to make the wound look better than it really is) and really is the widest supported security for wifi... but so easy to crack.

WPA is crackable (as proved this year), but the time needed to crack it just makes it not worth it. WPA of any sort is usually more than enough to ward off all but the most determined of crackers... and honestly.... why crack WPA when there are usually others around with open networks or WEP?
 
Wireless security, or any security for that matter is just a deterrent. So you just want to make yours less desirable than those around you.

ie
If you live in a apartment complex and see 10-15 aps that are unsecured around you... you wont need to worry about much in terms of security.

But if you live in a large apartment complex and you have the only wireless.... you will want to work alot harder :D
 
Additionally, you may want to utilize the MAC filter for your Wireless router. The whole goal of network security for personal networks (wifi in this case) is to make it enough of a PITA for the person trying to break in, that the move on to another person's less secure WIFI...

If you are more concerned about security than this due to personal reasons, dont run WIFI, run a cable.
 
As others have said WPA is the way to go.

This is my wireless security setup:

  • WPA2 (AES)
  • 12+ character password, consisting of random ASCII printable characters
  • I do not use MAC filtering or hide my SSID.
  • About once a month I change passwords. Usually because a new laptop shows up on my network and I forgot the password. :)
 
I secure my wifi with WPA2, MAC filtering enabled, and no SSID broadcast. My passwords are very long, usually 20+ characters in length, and theyre usually a conglomeration of intentionally misspelled words. Not that I have anything to worry about, as my neighbors run an open AP, but I still like to take the extra measure.
 
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