How do I add a security key to my network?

Just hooked up my DLink DIR 655 Xtreme N Gigabit router. Had no problem installing the router to connect with my pc (using the provided cd-rom), and my macbook picked up my network with ease.

Problem is, during installation using the cd-rom, I was never prompted to add a security key, i.e, add any protection, to my network.

How can I go ahead and do so? I'm guessing my macbook is at danger and not my pc. I tried reinstalling the cd-rom to do so, but I don't see an option to do it. It just gives me the option to install the router, which I obviously don't want to do.

Thanks.

 

Do you mean you can log into the wireless network without a password?

If so, you need to log into the router using the router IP and configure it. It's usually something like 192.168.0.1

 

Yes, I can log onto the network without a password.

What do I do?

 

Like coriolis said, direct your browser to your router IP and enable WEP or WPA, preferably the latter.

 

Make sure you add/change the admin password too, or someone may hijack it. Use WPA Personal AES with a min of 20 chr, and you should be fine. Do the setup from a wired connection or you will be dropped during the setup.

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for the advice. So I was able to direct my browser to my router IP given the number coriolis advised. Yet at these menus, I do not know how to enable WEP or WPA.

What is the difference between WEP and WPA? What is better? And lastly how do I secure my network from this menu?

 

find a menu for wireless it should be in there.

 

D-Link actually provides help for their products. Have you visited D-Link and read the FAQs or the install manuals?

 

WPA is much better. WEP can be cracked in minutes.

Login to the router, click "Wireless Settings" on the left, then the "Manual Wireless Network Setup" on the bottom, and you should arrive at the wifi config page with a whole bunch of settings.

To enable good encryption, go down to the "Wireless Security Mode" section and use the pull-down menu to change from "None" to "WPA-Personal." Two more sections should show up. In the first section, you can choose "Auto (WPA or WPA2," "WPA only," or "WPA2 only", and "TKIP," "AES," or "TKIP and AES" depending on what your Macbook and other wifi stuff supports. In the second section, create a password that's not just a word like "password," and is longer than 20 characters. Ideally, this should be a 63-character long string of gibberish. Here's a generator (change a few characters before using the one they give you). Start off by using "WPA2 only" and "AES." If your devices can't connect with, downgrade to "WPA only" and/or "TKIP."

(I got this info from the copy of the router GUI D-Link has on the DIR 655 webpage).

 

if that doesnt work...try 192.168.1.1 if using vista...for some reason thats what it defaulted to on mine and i thought that was interesting.

 

If your D-Link router was set to 192.168.1.1, then you bought a refurb router. All D-Link products use 192.168.0.1.

 

dave,

thanks for your post. i followed your words and my network is running smoothly and securely. thanks again!