How to Secure My Wireless Signal

So you're looking to secure your wireless signal. Wireless networking is an easy and convenient way for you to be able to share your entire Internet connection with the rest of your home, since it requires no wired connection. However, the downside to this scenario is that anyone within close range of your home can sneak into your Internet connection and steal your bandwidth. This will slow down your downloads, and if you're limited in use, it can rack up some serious bills. A password protection can solve this problem.

• 1

  Login to your router's backend. Open an Internet browser window, and enter your router's URL to access. Usually, it's one of the following three: 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.2.1. If none of those work, consult your user manual to check and see which is the correct URL.

• 2

  Enter your router's username and password. As with the URL, this varies by brand. Try the following: USERNAME: "admin," "root," or just leave it blank. Password is usually blank, but can also be "admin."

• 3

  Locate the Administration area of your router; usually this is under the Administration or Setup menu. Then look for the password or security area. Type a new password in the password field. Then click "Save" to save it, and close your browser.

• 4

  Log back into your router using the same URL you used before. Also enter in your new password when prompted. Then navigate to your Network Security, Wireless Security or Internet Security screen. How this is done varies by the type of router you are using; you may need to check your router's manual for specifics on securing your network with a password.

• 5

  Choose to secure your network with WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) 64-bit security; this is the standard for home networks. This will require you to select an SSID (Service Set IDentifier), which is your network's name, and a 10-digit password for your network. Name your network anything you like, though it might be good to give it an innocuous name, so your network isn't identified with your home. Then enter any 10 digits, letters or numbers, into the password field. Click "Save" and exit your browser once the save is complete.

• 6

  Log back into your wireless network, which will now be identified by the SSID you gave it. In Windows, open up your Network Connections and double-click on your network there. On a Mac, click on the wireless icon on the top right of your screen (a series of lines going up from a single point) and choose your network there. Enter your 10-digit password when prompted.