How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

Security has become second nature to people over the years, whether it be your home, car, or personal, clean. Our Computers are no exception to this, as digital thieves are lurking everywhere, and can be almost impossible to detect by the average Computer user. Preventing unauthorized access to your wireless home or business network (Wi-Fi) is an extremely important measure to take, as a hacker doesn't need to know you personally to target you, and they can be in a house or apartMent nearby, or even in a car parked on the street. Wi-Fi hackers have been known to drive around neighborhoods searching for wireless networks in people's homes, gain access through various unlocked doors in a wireless router's configuration, and then have a field daywith your information. In this article, we will go step by step through the different configurations of your wireless router that leave your network vulnerable, and what to change to make your network virtually hacker proof.

Step 1: The first thing that we have to do is login to our router's configuration utility. To do so, you must first figure out what your gateway's IP adDress is. You can do this by going to Start, Run and typing in > cmd. This will open a command prompt session of. In command prompt, type ' ipconfig ' without the quotations, and press enter. If done while connected to your network, this will return several different numbers. The one we need is listed as "Default Gateway". Take the IP adDress listed as "Default Gateway" and write it down, orcopy it. If you're not familiar with IP adDresses, it is a series of numbers separated by periods like this: 192.168.1.1 In fact, this particular IP address I just used as an example is the most common gateway, but yours may be listed as something different. Now, with this IP address copied, open a web browser such as internet explorer or Firefox, and paste or type the IP address, exactly as it shows into the address bar and press enter. This will bring up the login page for your router. If you know your login details, enter them here, if not, you will have to find the manufacturer's User ID and password for your router. You can find this in the manual that came with the router, or by going to the manufacturer's website and searching for the manual under the> router's model number (this can be found on a sticker on the back, side, or bottom of the router.) You can first try common ones like "admin" for the User ID, and password for the password, or "admin" for both User ID and password. If these don't work, refer to the manufacturer's manual for the User ID and password. If you set up your own User ID and password and forgot them, or the manufacturer's default User ID and password are not working, if other people in your home have access to the router or it had a previous owner, the default User ID and password may have been changed. In such a case you can reset them back to the defaults by pressing and holding the reset button on the back of the router for at least 5 seconds. Now you can login using the defaultUser ID and password set by the manufacturer.

Step 2: Change your User ID and password if they are set to the manufacturer's defaults. If someone gains access to your wireless network, they can easily log into your router's settings and change them to their liking.

How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

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How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

Step 3: Change your SSID. Your SSID is the name that you see for your wireless network when you search for open networks using a Wi-Fi enabled device. If the SSID is set to the manufacturer's default, anyone searching for an open network nearby can see yours, and with a little searching on the internet they can figure out the model number of your router, which will help them gain access to your router's settings.

How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

Connect Your Xbox 360 to the Internet - Wired LAN, Wireless Wi-Fi, or Internet Connection Sharing

Microsoft wants the Xbox 360 to be the center of your living room where you can do all sorts of things with your Hdtv such as play the hottest new games with advanced graphics engines and Watch HD video content. You can use the gaming console to access files in PCs as long as you let it join the same network the other Computers are in.

Xbox 360 has plenty of Internet features including Xbox LIVE which is basically a network of millions of gamers around the world that want to play cooperatively or competitively while sharing achieveMents, scores, and even downloadable titles. There are three ways you can connect to the Internet.

Wired Connection

1. Take an Ethernet cable and Plug it in the back of the Xbox 360. Plug the other end of the cable to an available jack on the router or directly to a modem if you do not have a router.

2. Turn on your Xbox 360 and go to "My Xbox." choose "System Settings" and go to "Network Settings." Choose the "Text Xbox LIVE Connection" option and choose "Yes" to allow the service to update your console's software. If this finishes successfully, you should have no problems with using the Internet.

Wireless Connection

1. For old Xbox 360 owners, connect the Wireless Networking Adapter to the console. Skip this step if you have the slimmer Xbox 360 model and want to connect wirelessly.

2. Head to the "System Settings" option from the "My Xbox" screen and then go to "Network Settings." Find the network name that matches the router with Internet access that you wish to connect to. Ask the person who set up the wireless router if you are unsure which one you need to connect to. If you cannot find the name, select "Specify Unlisted Network" and type in the name yourself. The person who set up the router should know the name.

3. Input the wireless network password if prompted. You also need to contact the administrator or individual that set up the router if you do not know the password.

4. Wait for the Xbox 360 to connect to the Internet and choose the "Yes" option to allow the console to download the latest update from Microsoft's servers. You should end up in Xbox LIVE afterwards which shows that your Internet properly works.

Internet Connection Sharing

1. Turn on the Computer or laptop that is using the Internet so you can share the connection with your Xbox 360. Click the Start Menu type "Ncpa.cpl" on the search box. Type this in the "Run" dialog if you are using Windows XP.

2. Right-click the connection icon that is hooked up to your router (usually the wireless connection). Click the "Sharing" tab and tick the first two checkboxes.

3. Now that your wireless connection is actively sharing, Plug your Xbox 360 into the vacant Ethernet jack.

4. Go to "My Xbox" on your Xbox 360 console and go to "System Settings" followed by "Network Settings." Choose "Wired Network" if prompted and then go to "Additional Settings". Choose "Restore to Factory defaults" and choose "Test Xbox LIVE Connection" to see if you have Internet connectivity.

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Troubleshooting Your IPad Wireless (WIFI) Connection

Troubleshooting Your IPad Wireless (WIFI) Connection

Wireless network adds a new set of potential problems for problem-solving activities. Below is a list of items the resolution of problems that you should consider all the problems with wireless connectivity that you are getting your iPad to be solved.

1) Make sure that the WiFi antenna. Tap "Settings". Touch "WIFI". Turn off WiFi.

2) Make sure that the iPad is not in flight mode. If so, tap "Settings" in main screen and then turn on AirplaneMode.

3) Check the connection. Make sure the iPad is a WiFi network is connected. Tap "Settings" in main screen. If the setting is not WIFI shows as Connected. Touch "WIFI" and then select the network.

4) Look for errors and check the scope of the device. The iPad may be too far from the wireless router, or it could be blocked something (like a thick wall or microwave) the location of the wireless signal.

5) renew the DHCP lease. TheiriPad is assigned a Dynamic Host Manage Protocol (DHCP) lease when you connect to any WIFI network. Renew the DHCP lease if your system is not connecting. Touch "Settings." Touch "WIFI." Touch the blue "More Info" icon. Touch "DHCP" tab and then Touch "Renew Lease."

6) Disconnect/Reconnect to your Network. Touch "Settings" on the home screen. Touch "WIFI." Touch the blue "More Info" icon. Touch "Forget This Network" button to disconnect. Then reconnect to the same network.

7) Reset your iPad System Settings. Warning: This will remove all the stored network information and will reset your iPad system settings to their near factory state. Touch "Settings" on the home screen. Touch "General." Touch "Reset." Your iPad will ask you to confirm your system reset.

8) Reboot and power cycle devices. Reset your hardware by performing the following tasks in order: restart your iPad, reboot your iPad's hardware, power cycle the wireless access point, and power cycle the broadband modem.

9) Make sure your wireless router is receiving data from your Internet Service Providers (ISP). You can connect an Ethernet (i.e. CAT 5 cable) from your router or internet modem directly to your laptop or desktop. If you are not able to connect to the internet this way, the problem is your connection to the ISP, not the wireless network. If it's an ISP issue, first turn off your internet modem and then your wireless router for a few minutes. Then Plug them back in. Sometimes you have to reset the connection to your ISP and turning off your modem does this. If you still can't get a signal, then call your ISP.