I connected a wireless router to my modem about a month ago (using a D-Link DI-524 or something like that - I know, D-Link is shit, but it's all I have for the time being). Now, up until the last couple of days, everything has been fine. However, a few issues are cropping up, namely:
1) Internet - I often get "server cannot be found" errors.
2) Wireless Manager - I use the Inter(R) PROSet/Wireless manager on my laptop. It gives me an error, stating that my laptop is connected to a network with a default SSID with all the default settings, and this is a security issue.
3) People stealing my Internets - I live in a apartment complex, and I am fairly sure people are connecting to my wireless. I need help in putting a password on the network.
Please note: I am a total newb at this sort of stuff. Any help would be greatly appreciated :P
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1. While the theory is that there are 11 channels, the reality is that there are only three (1, 6, 11). Most routers ship on 6. Try switching to 1 or 11 to see if that helps.
2. Check the order of networks, and make sure yours is at the top.
3. Well, there's a bunch of things:
*Turn off SSID broadcast - others cant find easily what they don't know exists
*Enable encryption
*Enable wireless MAC locking
Hope that helps.
If it's a DI-524 the encryption is pretty easy to set up. Go to http://192.168.0.1 (default IP setting for the DI-524. If you've changed it use the address you created). Go to the wireless section and select security. Select the level of security you desire and create an encryption key. Reboot the router (through the webpage) and you're good to go.
MAC-address filtering and turning off the SSID broadcast will not stop an attacker (they will just use Kismet/Kismac/etc and sniff the SSID and MAC addresses from your traffic). They will stop a n00b, but using WPA encryption with a strong passphrase will stop them both. So rely on WPA, but the rest is a waste of your time in my opinion.
Fo shizzles. Use WPA2, it may also be called TKIP/WPA. Create a good long passpharse (14-25 characters), and you should be alright.
EDIT: Nevermind, I figured it out. Thanks for all the help, I guess you could consider this one solved.
Your reasoning is "yes these things are ineffective to skilled attackers but they keep out riff raff" but what I am saying is that WPA obsoletes the other practices, or is a replacement for them if you will.
SSID hiding and MAC filtering -- these practices don't do anything that the WPA won't do for you already. If you have WPA, you're secure, and the other stuff is no longer necessary. You can call your SSID "123_Walnut_Street_betcha_cant_hack_me" but if you have WPA (and a strong passphrase) your wireless network is secure.