How to Password Protect Wireless Internet to Prevent Outside Use
Without a password, anybody walking or driving by your home would be able to access your wireless network. This would use up your bandwidth and slow down your Internet connection. People could also engage in illegal activities like software piracy on your network, which you would then be held responsible for. Password protecting your wireless Internet involves turning on security in your router setup utility.
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Instructions
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Click inside the address bar of your Web browser and type your wireless router's IP address. This is how you load your wireless router's setup utility. Each brand of router (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) has a different IP address, so look inside the manual to find out yours and type it exactly as it is printed into the address bar.
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Log into your router's setup utility. If you've never logged into this utility before, the default user name and password will still be in use. You can find these default user names and passwords in the manual, along with the IP address. If you have previously logged into this utility, use the user name and password you assigned at that time.
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Click "Security."
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Choose between "WEP" and "WPA" security. "WEP" lets you assign a password of your own choosing, while "WPA" randomly generates a unique password for you. Once you make your decision, write down your password and click "Save." Your wireless Internet connection is now password protected.
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