How to Password Protect a Wireless Linksys Network

Securing a wireless network is very important.

At the least, if you opt not to secure your Linksys wireless router, you put yourself at risk of having your Internet connection hijacked by neighbors who want to get free Internet. This can cause your connection to lag. At worst, you open up your network and computer to fraudulent activity. By simply adding a router password, you can prevent unwanted users from accessing your bandwidth and protect yourself from all sorts of issues down the road.

Things You'll Need

• Ethernet cable

Instructions

1. Plug an Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port located on the back of the modem. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the Internet/WAN port on the back of the Linksys router. You must have a wired connection to the router to access the router settings via the GUI (graphical user interface).

2. Launch a web browser and type "192.168.1.1" (without quotes) into the URL field. This brings up the username and password fields to allow access to the GUI. Enter "admin" as the username and leave the password field blank.

3. Select the "Wireless" tab and then select "Wireless Security." Select "WEP" for the most popular security setting and enter the password you want for the router. Confirm the password in the box below the first password.

4. Select "Save Settings" to enable the router security.

Tips & Warnings

• If the default username and password do not allow you to access the GUI, the information was changed previously. The only way to gain access to the router GUI is to reset the router. To do so, place a pin in the reset hole located on the back of the router. Wait until the lights blink and then attempt to access the router GUI again.

References

• TechSpot: A List of Common Default Router IP Addresses
• Linksys: Router Setup

Resources

• Read this Article in Portuguese