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wireless security

We strongly recommend that you take steps to help protect your wireless network against unauthorised use. Here are a few different ways to maximise the security of your wireless network and protect your data from unwanted intrusion.

For further instructions on securing your connection please refer to your user manual or contact Belkin Support on 1300 554 780.

The Belkin router has wireless access disabled when it is shipped out to you, however, once you turn on wireless, your network is open to anyone within range and with the proper equipment. Fortunately, the Belkin unit comes with a number of ways of securing your network, each of which is explained below. For a more detailed guide to setting up a secured wireless home network, with step by step instructions, take a look at our Quick Setup Guide for Wireless.

WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) works by establishing a shared key between the clients (network cards) and the wireless router, then using the key to encrypt and de-encrypt the data passing between them. The Belkin unit offers both 64-bit encyption and 128-bit encryption.

Click here for information on setting up WEP

WPA - PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre Shared Key) is a Wi-Fi standard that improves upon the security features of WEP. To use WPA-PSK, a shared key or "passphrase" is set. Using TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol), WPA-PSK automatically changes the keys at a preset time interval, making it much more difficult for hackers to find and exploit them.

Click here for information on setting up WPA-PSK

MAC address filtering: Each network adapter or card (wired or wireless) has a unique number assigned to it called a MAC address. You can setup your Belkin wireless router so only specific cards with a specific MAC address can access your network.

Click here for information on setting up Mac address filtering

 

 

Setting up WEP on your Belkin Wireless Router

  1. Ensure your hardware is connected properly.
  2. Open a web browser and in the address bar type in http://10.1.1.1 and press enter.
  3. Enter the password to access the configuration page of your modem. The default password is admin and press login.
  4. Select Advanced Setup in the left hand column
  5. Click WEP under the Wireless menu.
  6. Select Enable and choose either 64-bit or 128-bit encryption
  7. Tick the box next to Passphrase and then type in a password in the empty field. Click on Save Settings .
  8. Now click on WEP again and the four Keys will be filled in. You only need to write down Key 1. This will be needed when you try to connect to the modem using a wireless network adapter.
  9. You must now set all clients (network cards) to match these settings.

WARNING: If you are using a wireless client to turn on the security settings in your wireless router, you will temporarily lose your wireless connection until you activate security on your wireless client. Please record the key prior to applying changes in the wireless router. If you don€™t remember the key, your client will be locked out of the wireless router.

Connecting to a wireless network that uses WEP

Using the Belkin Wireless Utility:

Make sure your Belkin Wireless Adapter is installed correctly. For installation instructions please refer to the documentation provided with your adapter.

  1. Double-click the Signal Indicator icon to bring up the Belkin Wireless Utility screen. By default an icon should be on the desktop of your computer. It may also be found in the System Tray, located in the bottom right corner of the screen or by clicking on the START menu and selecting Belkin .
  2. Once you have the utility open click the Available Networks tab. If you do not see an Available Networks tab follow the steps below, otherwise proceed to the next point.
    • Click on the Status tab.
    • Untick the box which reads €œUse Windows to configure my wireless network settings.€
    • Click on the Available Networks tab which should now appear.
    • Click on Rescan and your network should be displayed in the list.
  3. Select your network from the list and click Connect .
  4. The Security tab will appear, make sure you have Enable WEP Encryption selected and also choose Manual Entry .
  5. Click on the radio button for Key 1  and then type in the Network key . This network key needs to match the key you assigned to your wireless router.
  6. Select either 64 bit or 128 Bit .
  7. Click Apply.
  8. Click Close. You should now be connected to a security enabled wireless network.

Using Wireless Zero Configuration (Windows XP):

  1. Open Control Panel and select Network Connections . If you do not have Network Connections then select Network and Internet Connections and then click on Network Connections .
  2. Right click on Wireless Network Connection and select View Available Wireless Networks .
  3. Select your network from the list and click Connect
  4. In the Network Key field type in your network key.This network key needs to match the key you assign to your wireless router.Reenter the key next to Confirm Network Key and click Connect .
  5. You should now be connected to a security enabled wireless network.

Setting up WPA on your Belkin Wireless Router

  1. Ensure your hardware is connected properly
  2. Open a web browser and in the address bar type in http://10.1.1.1 and press enter.
  3. Enter the password to access the configuration page of your modem. The default password is admin and press login.
  4. Select Advanced Setup in the left hand column
  5. Click WPA under the Wireless menu.
  6. Select Enable
  7. Enter your network key.
  8. Click Save Settings to finish. You must now set all clients (network cards) to match these settings.

Connecting to a wireless network that uses WPA-PSK

Using the Belkin Wireless Utility:

  1. Double-click the Signal Indicator icon to bring up the Belkin Wireless Utility screen. By default an icon should be on the desktop of your computer. It may also be found in the System Tray, located in the bottom right corner of the screen or by clicking on the START menu and selecting Belkin .
  2. Once you have the utility open click the Available Networks tab. If you do not see an Available Networks tab follow the steps below, otherwise proceed to the next point.
    • Click on the Status tab.
    • Untick the box which reads €œUse Windows to configure my wireless network settings.€
    • Click on the Available Networks tab which should now appear.
    • Click on Rescan and your network should be displayed in the list.
  3. Select your network from the list and click Connect .
  4. Under the Security tab, click Enable WPA Encryption
  5. Select WPA-PSK from the Security Type drop down box and TKIP from the Encryption Type drop down box
  6. Enter the passphrase or network key into the Pre Shared Key box.
  7. Click Apply

You should now be connected to a security enabled wireless network.

Using Wireless Zero Configuration (Windows XP):

  1. Open Control Panel and select Network Connections. If you do not have Network Connections then select Network and Internet Connections and then click on Network Connections .
  2. Right click on Wireless Network Connection and select View Available Wireless Networks .
  3. Select your network from the list and click Connect
  4. In the Network Key field type in your network key.This network key needs to match the key you assign to your wireless router. Reenter the key next to Confirm Network Key and click Connect .
  5. You should now be connected to a security enabled wireless network.

Setting MAC address filtering

Follow these steps to setup MAC address filtering on your wireless modem router.

  1. Ensure your hardware is connected properly.
  2. Open a web browser and in the address bar type in http://10.1.1.1 and press enter.
  3. Enter the password to access the configuration page of your modem. The default password is admin , and press login.
  4. Click on Advanced Setup in the top left corner of the web page.
  5. Click on Firewall .
  6. Click on MAC Filter .
  7. Select Enable
  8. Enter the MAC address of each computer connected to the modem.  (You can easily find the MAC addresses of your network adapters by going to the command prompt and typing 'ipconfig /all' . Alternatively open the Belkin Wireless Utility and the MAC address should be listed under the About tab)
  9. When you have entered all the desired MAC addresses click Save Settings .

WARNING: Ensure that you enter the MAC address of the computer you are using to configure the wireless modem. If you forget to do this and then save settings you may lock yourself out of the modem.

 

Other tips for wireless security

Hiding the wireless SSID

A service set identifier (SSID ) is a name given to a wireless local area network. A simple method of securing your network is to hide the network from unwanted users. This can be done by preventing the modem from transmitting your network name. (SSID).

Follow these steps to prevent your modem broadcasting your network name:

  1. Ensure your hardware is connected properly.
  2. Open a web browser and in the address bar type in http://10.1.1.1 and press enter.
  3. Enter the password to access the configuration page of your modem. The default password is admin , and press login.
  4. Click on Advanced Setup in the top left corner of the web page.
  5. Click on Wireless in the menu on the left.
  6. Click on Channel and SSID
  7. Place a tick in the box to Disable ESSID broadcast and then save

Changing the default administrator password

Follow these steps to change the password on your wireless modem router.

  1. Ensure your hardware is connected properly.
  2. Open a web browser and in the address bar type in http://10.1.1.1 and press enter.
  3. Enter the password to access the configuration page of your modem. The default password is admin , and press login.
  4. Click on Advanced Setup in the top left corner of the web page.
  5. Click on System in the menu on the left.
  6. Click on Password Settings and enter the current password
  7. Enter a new password and click Save Settings . The password for your wireless router has now been changed.