How to Secure a Wireless Network With a Buffalo Router

Network security is important.

Securing your wireless network is important for many reasons. You may need to protect personal or financial information, and sometimes hackers may pirate an unsecure network to make their illegal online activity trace back to that Internet connection instead of their own. To secure your network with a Buffalo router, you use the device's web-based control panel.

Instructions

1. 

   Address bar.

   Type "192.168.11.1" into the address bar of your Firefox or Internet Explorer web browser. Press the "Enter" key.

2. 

   Log in.

   Enter the username "root" in the security window that opens up. By default, Buffalo routers do not require a password.

3. Find and click on the menu "Advanced," then "Wireless Config," then "Security." This will open the router's wireless security menu.

4. Click the checkbox for the encryption type being used. These include WEP, TKIP, WPA and WPA PSK. The latter of these is the most secure.

5. Enter the key (password) of your choice into the first "key" box. WPA PSK requires at least eight characters, and WEP requires 10 numeric or five or more hexadecimal characters. Choose something that is not easy to guess; do not use something obvious such as your name or phone number.

6. Enter the password you chose into the wireless connection client of each computer you want to connect to your secure wireless network. They will now be able to connect securely without allowing unauthorized users onto the network.

Tips & Warnings

• Change your wireless security key often.

• Choose the highest level of encryption when you set up the security key.

• Write down your key and keep it in a safe place to ensure you do not lock yourself out of your network.

• If you suspect unauthorized users are on your network, getting them off is as simple as disconnecting your router's power supply.

References

• Buffalo Tech: User Guides and How-to Guides
• Buffalo Tech: Buffalo Router Security Setup

Resources

• Buffalo Tech: Buffalo Products and User Guides