www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hello just a quick thing I have just set up a new router and a new wireless card and now i get a little exclamation mark next to the bars. I thought it meant my ip addresses were messed up so i assinged one to the wireless card and its still there. any ideas ..ty

It means your wireless network has no security enabled.

You have the following (broadly)....

None: Open networks. Anyone can connect, use your broadband and download films, porn - bad stuff. YOU are responsible for fines if caught downloading films, etc.

WEP: 64 or 128 bit. It's the security equivelent of closing your door and windows on your house. Someone can give the doors a prod and walk in. Easily cracked with readily available tools for the masses.

Use this is you have REALLY old devices that don't support anythign else.

WPA / WPA2 : Current security of choice for personal networks. You can enter a 'friendly' key that you will remember. Common sense would say you enter somthing not guessable, not in a dictionary would be good.

e.g. Password = bad
P@ssw0rd = better

log into your router and enable. Once you've done this, you'll need to change the settings on your PC too.

to make it easier:

Log into Router
Change SSID (broadcast name) - so it asks you to reconnect and enter passwork
Enable WPA
- enter passphrase
Save and reboot (if needed)
connect to wireless network from PC
- enter password when promoted
browse happy

You can also set your PC back to DHCP too, don't need a fixed IP.

As a tip, you may also want to change default wireless channel if it's 6, as most stuff seems to perch there. You have 1 - 13 in the UK. Best are usually 3, 9 and 12 with least overlap.

Don't 'hide' SSID - it's annoying and can cause connection problems, you are not 'hidden'.

MAC address filtering is a waste of time, don't bother.

BG

also a long password compromised of words in the dictionary is better than a short string of substituted characters due to greater bits of entropy (essentially takes longer to crack)

for example: billygoatultimatehandymancompletecomputinggenius (47 characters) would take far far far longer to crack and be easier to remember than s3kr1tp@55w0rd (roughly 14 characters)

If you get above 21 letter passwords and use WPA2 with AES encryption your essentially rocksolid
WPA (which uses weaker TKIP encryption) is still secure enough though to dissuade all but the most committed from getting in and using long passwords makes their lives very very hard.

Different strokes etc...... I use four different passwords for my various online accounts, each of which are made from 16 randomly selected alphanumeric characters and, for some reason I've been able to recall these passwords faultlessly for over 18 years now! And, no, they've never been compromised (or written down).

I use Password1 << no one will guess that!!!

seriously I reckon password1234 is likely the last thing someone would try as its so obvious

I like my Smart Card I use for work. Lets me on anything with a password that only changes every 180 days - If I lose it, it's a RIGHT pain in the ass though.

Remember getting somewhere and thinking, where is my smart card.....NOOOOOOOOOOOOO other side of Europe. Can't get in buildings, rooms, security RAS, computers, payroll.......life on a card!!! :(

BG