| Setting up security on your wireless network is | | | | mistakes. There are a couple of things that you |
| actually quite simple and something that is really | | | | can change in here one is the Network ID or |
| essential. You do not want anybody to be able | | | | SSID which is essentially the name of your |
| to access your WiFi network so you need to | | | | network. Change this to a name that you will |
| ensure that you have configured encryption so | | | | recognize and we will explain in a moment of this |
| you limit the possibilities of somebody gaining | | | | is about. |
| unauthorized access to your local area network | | | | To enable encryption you can select WEP with |
| and Internet. | | | | this you have to enter a 10-digit passphrase or |
| There are a vast amount of routers available in | | | | password. You will be asked to enter numbers |
| the marketplace was basically the settings should | | | | between 0-9 and letter between A-F make sure |
| be very similar across the board. Many people shy | | | | you keep notes of what the password you are |
| away from this is taking it is too technical for | | | | entering is as you need to know what this |
| them to make simple little changes and may want | | | | passphrase is at a later stage. Once this is done |
| to call in a so-called expert in order to enable | | | | you can save settings and may also need to |
| security features and ensure that they are set up | | | | restart your router. |
| correctly. To be honest you should learn how to | | | | Unplug the network cable from your laptop. You |
| do this yourself, as it is very simple to achieve. | | | | will then need to go to the view available wireless |
| First of all you need to connect directly to your | | | | networks within windows, which should list all of |
| wireless router using a cable from your laptop. | | | | the WiFi networks in your area. Your network will |
| This is a network cable or Cat-5 cable as it is | | | | most likely be the strongest signal but you can |
| sometimes called. Most routers allow you to | | | | also tell which one it is from the Network ID that |
| access their interface using your Internet browser | | | | you setup in one of the previous steps. Simply |
| by simply putting in the IP address of the router | | | | double click on your network and enter the |
| into the address bar. If you are unsure how to do | | | | passphrase once this has been done you should |
| this just have a quick look at your router manual | | | | have a successful connection to your wireless |
| and they should give clear and precise instructions | | | | network. |
| of how to do this. | | | | Your network is now secure and encrypted and |
| Once you have the interface displayed on your | | | | you should now have peace of mind that there |
| laptop screen you are then looking to find the | | | | will be no unauthorized access onto your local |
| security settings so you can enable security and | | | | area network or anybody using your Internet |
| make changes if needed. Do not be frightened of | | | | connection. |
| this is very very basic and you can not make any | | | | |