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| Secure Your Wireless Network |
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| The following information assumes your wireless network is managed by Windows XP (Service Pack 2).
Windows Vista Instructions are also available. However your wireless network may be managed by software from
another company, such as Intel or Netgear for example, so your particular installation may not conform precisely to these instructions. Even so, the same basic steps are
necessary in all cases, so you should be able to adapt the following information to your particular installation. |
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| Overview: |
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1. Configure Wireless Access Point
- Change default SSID
- Disable broadcasting of SSID
- Select WPA-PSK + TKIP
- Set passphrase (PSK*)
2. Configure Client PC(s)
- Set SSID to match access point
- Select WPA-PSK + TKIP
- Enter passphrase (PSK*)
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| * PSK = Private Shared Key. |
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| Instructions For Windows XP (SP2) |
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1. Make sure Windows XP is patched with Service Pack 2. Click START | Control Panel | Performance and Maintenance | System to check.
If necessary, you can download Service Pack 2 from
Windows Update,
(make sure you're using Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 or later to use Windows Update). |
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| 2. To configure your wireless access point / router, open the web-based administration front end using a web browser
such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. You just type in http:// followed by the IP address. In my case that's http://192.168.0.231 but look in
your manual to find your settings. You may be required to enter a username and password to access the interface. Again, check your manual for details and consider
changing the default password to one of your choice. Once you've opened the administration interface, find the Security set-up page. Change the default
SSID (Service Set Identifier - i.e. the name of the wireless network - e.g.BeckysHouse) and remember it. If there's an option like
hide SSID then select it. |
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| 3. Select WPA-PSK from the encryption options. PSK stands for Private Shared Key - which you will later type into
every PC on the wireless network. Select TKIP as the encryption method. Type a suitably obscure pass phrase and remember it
(e.g. '83cky0106-0x0n£' instead of 'Becky0106-oxon£'). This is the 'Private Shared Key'. |
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| 4. Now set up the client PC(s). Single-click the wireless network icon in Windows system tray (near the clock).
If you've set the wireless network SSID to be hidden (see 2. above), then Windows will claim there are no wireless networks to be found. That's all right. Now
click Set up a wireless network for a home or small office. |
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| 5. The Wireless Network Wizard will start. Click Next, select Set up a new wireless network and then click
Next again. In the Create a name for your wireless network box, enter the hidden SSID that you set for your access point. Now select
manually assign a network key and check the box to indicate you want to use WPA (select TKIP as the encryption method if given a choice),
then click Next. |
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| 6. Now enter and confirm your WPA pass phrase (Private Shared Key) as you did for the access point / router, then
click next again. Click Set up a network manually. Click Next, then Finish. Your wireless adaptor will
restart and connect to the access point/router via your new secure connection. |
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| 7. Because you've chosen to 'Hide SSID' Windows may deny all knowledge of your wireless network. However,
(assuming you have a broadband modem connected to or built in to your wireless access point / router) you can open up a web browser and see if you can connect to
www.express-solutions.co.uk
and note the time and date at the top of the page. This will confirm if you have a live connection. |
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| 8. Pour out a generous slug of your favourite alcoholic beverage and sink back into an armchair adopting a pose of smug
self-satisfaction. Cheers! |
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