How to Enable Security Settings on Your NETGEAR Wireless Router

Enabling wireless security is essential nowadays. Due to improvements in technology, the range of your wireless router has grown now there exists a real threat that neighbours to a few houses away might be able to tap into your internet connection, or worse, your computers, if you refuse to secure your network. This tutorial assumes that you are running Microsoft Windows, are linked to your network and still have entry to a web browser.

Step 1. Click start, run, and type in "cmd". Hit Enter.

Step 2. A black terminal box should open. Type ipconfig thus hitting Enter. What you are trying to find could be the number next for the line saying Default Gateway. You might have few different sections that say this. Never fear! You are seeking several that is similar to among the following:

10.1.x.x

192.168.x.x

In most cases it is going to either be 10.1.1.1 or 192.168.1.1

Make a note of this number.

Step 3. Open your favourite internet browser and say hello to the number you've got just written down. e.g. "http://10.1.1.1" striking Enter.

Step 4. You should be prompted to penetrate a password. Again, this tutorial is good for NETGEAR branded routers, and the default password because of these are "admin" and "password". If that fails, try "admin" and "admin", or "admin" and absolutely nothing. If that fails, you might need to speak to whoever setup your router in the first place, since they could have selected a different password.

Step 5. You should easily be inside belly with the beast! There will be a zillion options within the left menu. Never fear! We are only looking for one in particular - "Wireless Settings". Click on it.

Step 6. You should easily be offered various options within the right hand window. Again, do not be overwhelmed. We are seeking something quite specific. There should be a summary of bullet points with a heading saying "Security Options"

There are two main options we ought to consider for your home network. The first is WEP, that is best used if you have an extremely old wireless card (5+ years). Otherwise, we need to look for use WPA2-PSK. Remember, in the event you put it back to a option that isn't appropriate for your wireless card, you may must connect with the router directly using a cable to improve the setting back.

First, should you choose WEP, you've got a few options. You can generate keys which has a passphrase, or simply just enter an integral in. I find it easier just to go in a vital (inside the section labelled "Security Encryption (WEP) Key"). The peculiarity of WEP is basically that you must use hexadecimal characters. In effect this means you may use the letters A-F (non case-sensitive) along with the numbers 0-9. If you go with a 64-bit key in the Encryption strength option, then you must use 10 characters. If you select 128-bit, then you must use 26 characters.

In my honest opinion, it's best to stay with WPA2-PSK. It's considerably more secure and much easier as possible set an average password and aren't tied to hexadecimal characters. Be sure to select WPA2-PSK (AES). Then you simply need to select a passphrase of 8-64 characters.

Step 7. Once you've got filled out your security options, scroll to the bottom and then click Apply. Your router should now restart and you might have fired up security settings.

Step 8. The last thing to accomplish would be to ensure that your computer(s) know this new password. Go the control panel, network & sharing center and click Manage wireless networks. Here you'll be able to improve the password on your network accordingly.