how set up fire wall for wifi system on XP?

[~A_Sammy]

I just set up a D-Link wifi router/access point and got the internet working
on it. Just a tower and a laptop.

I thought there was encryption software on the cd but I can't find it, and
the software for a firewall that was on the cd keeps taking me to their
upgrade page so I'm going to uninstall that. (upgrade for $35, not upgrade
lets fix the bugs.)

Can anybody tell how to proceed to secure the system.
Thanks,

Sammy

 

[Jim]

You don't actually "install" encryption, it's simply a function of the
router's firmware working in conjunction w/ the client software. You need
to configure the router's encryption via it's config utility (on my D-Link
DI-624 router, I use IE and visit http://192.168.0.1, then go to
Home->Wireless). You'll find there a place to specify the authentication
type (Open, Shared, WPA, etc.), key length (64 bit, 128 bit), and WEP key
(something you make up). Likewise, you go to the clients and configure them
match your server configuration (items will be very similar, if not
identical). Once encryption parameters are defined, the router and clients
will use this information to secure their communications. That's all there
is to it.

The only reason you need to update the router firmware is if it's
considerably out of date, corrects a bug that's affecting you, or has a new
feature you wish to implement. As a general rule, I get my router and
client working first, first w/ no encryption, then w/ encryption, then
finally, upgrade the firmware (if prudent). Btw, the firmware upgrade will
usually return the router to defaults, so you may wish to write down your
configuration changes first so they can be readily reapplied.

HTH

Jim