How to Change a Secured Internet Password
Wireless routers permit you to access the World Wide Web from multiple computers even if you are not connected directly to Internet cables. In order to prevent others from stealing your wireless service and using your router to access information about your computer, it's best to make your connection secure through setting up a secured Internet password. Occasionally you might want to change your password to something harder to hack or easier to remember.
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Instructions
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Make sure your router is connected properly, turned on and functioning well.
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Open your Internet browser (preferably Internet Explorer, as this browser tends to be compatible with more routers and has been around for longer than most other browsers).
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Type the Internet Protocol (IP) address into the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) bar at the top of the browser window. Look on the router or in the instructions that came with the router for the IP address if you do not know it. You will need to contact the manufacturer for the router to get the IP address if your router doesn't have the IP address on it and you no longer have the instructions. Hit "Enter" on your keyboard to have the browser search for the router IP address.
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Type in your administration user name and password in the dialog window that pops up. This authenticates your security privileges to the router settings, including the password. Click "OK" or hit "Enter" on your keyboard.
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Look for and click on a link called "Wireless Encrypting," "WEP key," "Wireless Password," "Network key" or something similar in the window that appears with all the data related to your router. The exact link title will vary based on your router model.
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Select the type of encryption you wish to use for the router and password. Usually you will have choice between WEP, TKIP, and AES, and some router manufacturers are kind enough to tell you exactly what level of security each one has. As of 2010, in general, WEP is considered the easiest to crack, while AES is considered one of the most secure.
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Type the password you want into the key (password) text box in the window that appears when you click the password link. Depending on your model, you may need to set some other features such as a passphrase, but these should be clearly marked. Click "Apply" or "OK."
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Tips & Warnings
When you reset your password, you may be given specifics on what the password must contain in terms of characters and numbers. If you are not given specifics, aim toward a password that is longer and which appears to combine numbers and characters randomly. DON'T use items that are assumed easily or which may be known already, such as your name or birth date.
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