Setting Up Your D-Link Wireless Network - Simple Steps to Follow

The Dlink wireless network setup is quite easy. All you need is a Dlink wireless router or a Wireless Access Point (WAP) and then you need the Dlink wireless adapter, one for each Computer, which will connect to the router or the WAP. There are many components to a wireless network and it may include a broadband internet connection through a cable modem or DSL, an internet security option, wireless printers and faxes, wireless music and video players, wireless game consoles and controllers, and so on.

Dlink wireless network setup is easiest when all components are from Dlink because it ensures maximum hardware compatibility. All Dlink products come with a quick installation manual that makes it a snap to follow step-by-step instructions to get the network ready to go. There are also detailed user manuals that cover all the technical aspects of the router and adapter.

Wireless networks are quite convenient and neat because there is no mess of power wires and connecting cables but there are some things you proceed with the Dlink wireless network setup.

First thing to keep in mind is that no outsiders are able to connect to your network because by default the Dlink wireless network setup is open to everyone. You must replace all the default passwords with those of your own choice because the factory defaults are known to hackers. Default settings include the access point and adapters and passwords. There are many similar Dlink networks in the world and it must be expected that there is a high probability of your network being close to some adapter that is not part of your network. Hackers are constantly on the prowl looking for networks running on default settings because they are so easy to crack. All you need to do is create a new password and you are several times safer. Hackers are a constant threat to wireless networks so you must change the password before you open your network to the world.

During the first run of the Dlink wireless network setup you will be assisted by setup wizards. When you are answering the questions that will help you to configure the network you must make sure you change all the default values to customized ones. Just make sure that you don't go overboard in choosing something so complicated that you yourself cannot remember it. As long as you go in for a reasonably complicated personalized setup you will be fine. Just do not choose common information like your family name, kids' names, date of birth and so on.

If you have more than one Computer you wish to include in your wireless network then make sure the WAP or router is located central to all Computers.

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Three Simple Steps to Secure Your Wireless Router

Three Simple Steps to Secure Your Wireless Router

Just about everyone seems to have at least one wireless router in their home today. Typically, a wireless router was only used if you had a laptop Computer with a wireless card. Today, even those without laptops seem to have wireless routers in their home. If you happen to have your desktop set up in a different room from the internet connection you can simply purchase a wireless router and a USB wireless transmitter for your desktop to be able to communicate with it. Due to the overwhelming presence of these devices and the fact that if they are not properly secured that you could be the victim of identity theft or bandwidth theft, it's imperative that you learn to properly secure your wireless router.

A router simply passes data packets from your local network to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), thus acting as a gateway from your household to anywhere on the internet. Wireless routers are so quick and easy to set up that anyone can do it nowadays. Sadly, very little emphasis seems to be paid to security during the initial setup. Protect yourself and your information with these three steps:

First, always set a password on your device. A good password needs to be at least eight characters in length, using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Doing this will prevent unauthorized access to the router.

Next, always make sure that access via the network to the admin panel has been disabled. By doing this you will force any changes to your setup, including a password change, to be restricted to the Computer directly connected to the device. Put another way, if you want to make changes to the device you have to be sitting in front of it and not somewhere else.

Finally, I always recomMend turning off the SSID broadcast. What this means is if you don't know the name to your wireless network, you can't get on it, even if you know the password. This way your network won't show up when someone is running a scan looking for a network to get onto or possibly hack into. No name, no access. Along these lines, make sure you pick a good network name and don't use the default given to it. Perhaps you remember hearing about a well-known internet search company that decided to map everyone's wireless networks when taking photos for their 'Street View' feature? Not broadcasting the SSID, as it's known, would have protected your privacy in this case.

Using these three simple steps will prevent almost all possibility of unwanted access to your wireless network. Just remember to check for the occasional firmware update from your wireless router company's site. You can find a check-for-update link within your router's control panel.

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