How to Set Up a Wireless Security Network

Host: A lot of people going wireless now, we’re going to talk about wireless security with Sean Walker, thanks for joining us. Sean Walker: You’re welcome. Host: So we’ve got a D-Link Wireless N Routers, so the latest and greatest as far as speed. A lot of people don’t turn the security on. Sean Walker: Absolutely. With N right now, because there is so much larger range you can go further, that’s a big problem because now more people have access to your wireless network. Host: So even more neighbors can see what you’re doing. Sean Walker: Absolutely. Host: Let’s go through the setup here and we’ve got D-Link, but in many case this is a very similar setup process for the other brands. Sean Walker: All the same settings are applied because this is standard. All the same security features usually are there. Host: Yes. Okay so, let’s start off and typically they always have some type of Wizard that kind of watched you through it. Sean Walker: Exactly, something that they can take somebody that has a modern level of knowledge and walk them through what you have to setup. So we’re going to start off going through the Wizard and the first thing that it will ask you do is to put in a network name. It is also called an SS ID. So in this case, we’re just going to call it Get Connected. Host: And it’s better to not use the Default one. Sean Walker: Correct. Now you see that a lot, when you turn on your laptop and it scans for networks, you see a lot of links for D-Link. Host: Some defaults. Sean Walker: Exactly. Host: Yeah. Sean Walker: So, we have a couple of options beneath here. It’s asking us to automatically assign a network key. In this case, it turns on the inscription. So we have two options beneath ‘turn-on’ the key one is to manually assign the network key which we want to do in this case. And then the second thing is to use WPA inscription. There are two main types of inscription, there is WEP and WPA’s. We’re going to use that one. Host: And that one is better? Sean Walker: It is better. The reason is WEP is static. So when you set it up, it always uses that and that basically gives people an opportunity to hack it. Host: Okay. Sean Walker: With WPA, it has the opportunity to change those keys on a routinely basis and you can set up how often you want those keys to rotate. It’s asking us for a wireless security password. You can use just the normal texts. That’s not a big deal. However, it has to be a minimum of eight characters. But you can make it as long as you want. And from a key perspective, especially rotating key perspective, the long you make it, the more options it has. So in this case, we’re just going to call it Get Connected again. Host: Typically, you wouldn’t want to use something like that because that’s easy to guess. Sean Walker: No. Host: You want to use a combination of letters and numbers. Sean Walker: Exactly. In this case, for this purpose, we’ll just do something easy. So we’re going to save that. Host: So now, basically this has got some level of security happening so it’s not going to be easy for my neighbor to see where I’m surfing? Sean Walker: Exactly. So this is the stuff that the Wizard helped you setup. Now there is a few more things that you can actually to go through and do which make it ever harder. Host: Okay. Sean Walker: The first thing I’d recommend that you do is to change the channel. Every single one, almost every device that is out there comes preset for Channel 6. What the best thing to do is to turn your wireless card onto a scan. Take a look at the channels that are out there and find one that isn’t being used. You’re going to get a way better signal and way more speed because you’re going to have less interference. So that’s the biggest thing. Host: So the further away from other people’s channels, the better. Sean Walker: Right. So the one thing to remember is the channels actually overlap. So Channel 6 for example actually takes up Channels 5 and 7 too. So to get away and not interfere with Channel, you got at least use Channel 4. Host: So at least two away. Sean Walker: Exactly. Another thing here is 802.11 mode, this was basically was any type of network device to connect that uses little standards. In this dropdown, you actually have the option to make it less. So you could say ‘Only N Devices’ or ‘GNN.’ Host: Okay. Sean Walker: Now, the advantage there is the less different standards you use, the less overhead that you’re going to have. Host: Got it. Sean Walker: So if you only have N Devices, you’re going to get way better through. Transmission rate, I would leave this to automatic, and what is that is going to do is based on the RF conditions, or the single condition is going to choose the absolute best. Channel Width, you have two options here, 20 Megahertz or Auto 20 and 40. When you change it to that, it’s actually going to use even more channel space, right, so if you have a really clear spectrum, you can definitely go up to 40 or the Auto setting which will go either one. This next one here is probably the biggest one that is going to help with security. If you change this visibility status to invisible, it never broadcasts your network thing. Host: So when I turn on my laptop and I’m searching for networks. I won’t be able to see it. Sean Walker: Right, and you probably set that now. When you go there, you know that there is a network there, but it’s blank. So you have to enter that. Host: Got it. Sean Walker: So, when they try to connect to that then it’s going to say, ‘Give me your SS ID.” Host: Which gives it even higher level of security. Sean Walker: Exactly. And that’s the bulk of it. In a larger enterprise style environment, like a business, you can actually set up different encryption keys for every person. Host: So, some great tips there obviously. Set up security in the first place but go in manually and edit it and it will give you even security. Sean Walker: Absolutely Host: Seam Walker, our network guru talking all about setting up wireless network routers.