How to use Network Key on WiFi Router

[Jim]

First off, I admit I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to wireless
routers.

Question - A visiting friend used his laptop to connect to the Internet
through my wireless Belkin router. When he returned home and tried to
connect to his wireless router, it kept asking for his network key. Why did
this happen and how does he correct it?

Note, to the best of our knowledge, the routers at both locations were not
purposely setup with any security settings.

TIA

 

[Barb Bowman]

the first thing you should do with both routers is change the
default password, change the default SSID to something different,
not with personal information, and set up security, preferably WPA2.
Leaving wireless at default settings with no security leaves you
wide open to data theft, identity theft, theft of service, etc.

First off, I admit I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to wireless
routers.

Question - A visiting friend used his laptop to connect to the Internet
through my wireless Belkin router. When he returned home and tried to
connect to his wireless router, it kept asking for his network key. Why did
this happen and how does he correct it?

Note, to the best of our knowledge, the routers at both locations were not
purposely setup with any security settings.

TIA

--

Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

HI
If your Router SSID is called Linksys, and his Router SSID is called Linksys
too, the Security key id Now associated with SSID Linksys.
Set your Router with a unique name and new security, and suggest to your
friend to do it too.'
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).
Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.
Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download
the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357
The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless
Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with
your Wireless hardware.
All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible
of one of the Wireless devices.
I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can
do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the
device with a better one.
Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -
http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[wordpolice]

HI
If your Router SSID is called Linksys, and his Router SSID is called
Linksys too, the Security key id Now associated with SSID Linksys.
Set your Router with a unique name and new security, and suggest to
your friend to do it too.'
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).
Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.
Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to
download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357 The documentation of your Wireless
devices (Wireless Router, and
Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is
available with your Wireless hardware.
All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best
possible of one of the Wireless devices.
I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to
the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured
to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card
that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole
Network, replace the device with a better one.
Setting Wireless Security -
http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html The Core differences between
WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -
http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

These web pages are out of date and are no longer good references. Example
"The Future (probably in mid 2005 will come with the release of 802.11i)."