How to Encrypt a WiFi Connection
If you leave your Wi-Fi connection unprotected, you are leaving it vulnerable to unauthorized use by third-parties. A scammer or spammer nearby can use an un-encrypted Internet connection, such as yours, to send unwanted spam or visit illicit websites. So it is dire that you encrypt your Wi-Fi connection as soon as you establish one in your home or business--or at an Internet cafe.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Open your Internet browser and type in the address for your wireless router. You can find this address in the documentation that came with your router. It is an IP address, like 192.168.1.1. See Microsoft.com/athome/organization/wirelesssetup.aspx for a listing of common router addresses.
-
2
Log into your router when you see a dialog box appear. This will be either the default login information as described in your documentation or a user name and password that you set previously.
-
-
3
Click the "Wireless" or "Wireless Security" tab on your router's settings dashboard. You should see a screen that allows you to apply encryption to your router in the form of wireless key (the password).
-
4
Select WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) for the security mode. Both encrypt your Wi-Fi connection and protect it from eavesdropping; however, WPA is the latest in wireless protection.
-
5
Enter a pass phrase between eight to 63 characters long if you chose WEP. Set the router to use the first key in the list as your password when it is generated. Hit "Generate" or the similar option to generate a series of unique wireless keys.
-
6
Enter a pass phrase between eight and 32 characters long if you chose WPA protection. Set the amount of time that you want this pass phrase to stay active in seconds (such as 7,200 seconds for two hours). Set the WPA algorithm at TKIP.
-
7
Write down the wireless password that you created, for your reference, and then save your wireless settings.
-
8
Give the wireless key to everyone who plans to use your WiFi connection. Each user will now have to enter that key when prompted in order to access the wireless connection.
-
1
