network security

[afee12345]

hi
i just set up a belkin g router (wireless high speed) .
i then set up a pc card on my desktop and as soon i installed the card it found the software (which i installed first) and started to communicate with the router and was online.

what confuses me is that there was no screens asking me to link my pc to the router( like when you buy a cordless phone and you decide to add another handset but you have to add codes for it to communicate to the base) with any sort of security.

now i was wondering if my neigbour wanted a free broadband all he has to do is buy a card install it and start using my internet connection without my knowledge.

is this possible and if yes how can i secure it???????

please help

many thanks in advance

 

[generalchaos]

If he gets a strong enough signal he definately could.

Theres a few ways to do this, if your neighbors arent hardcore computer geeks, setting up WEP encryption on the router should keep most people out.

128 bit encryption is obviously the best, but your signal strength will decrease. So if your signal is still strong with 128 WEP use it, if not, try 64 bit.

Theres also other ways like assigning MAC addresses and all that garbage, but WEP should be fine.

It should be in a wireless menu of the router (if its anything like a linksys).

generally you just type in 192.168.1.1 into your web browser and then type admin as the password, leave username blank, and then youll be in the router config....this may be different on a belkin though, look in the instructions if it doesnt work.

Its also a good idea to change the username/pass of the router while your there.

 

[afee12345]

If he gets a strong enough signal he definately could.

Theres a few ways to do this, if your neighbors arent hardcore computer geeks, setting up WEP encryption on the router should keep most people out.

128 bit encryption is obviously the best, but your signal strength will decrease. So if your signal is still strong with 128 WEP use it, if not, try 64 bit.

Theres also other ways like assigning MAC addresses and all that garbage, but WEP should be fine.

It should be in a wireless menu of the router (if its anything like a linksys).

generally you just type in 192.168.1.1 into your web browser and then type admin as the password, leave username blank, and then youll be in the router config....this may be different on a belkin though, look in the instructions if it doesnt work.

Its also a good idea to change the username/pass of the router while your there.

thanks for the advice

when im typing or viewing anything can it be viewed by anyone else on a different computer if they picked my signal up? i.e. online banking ,emails etc