You may have noticed that at your favorite coffee shop, place of business, or even at your home or in your neighborhood, that there are many unprotected wireless networks out there. They often use the default names, usernames, and even the standard passwords. We'd like to guide you through some simple steps on how you can help protect your own wireless network from hackers and other would be intruders!

In order to secure your wireless network, you can enable WEP Encryption, WPA-PSK Encryption, or the Access Control List.

This article explains how to configure the WEP / WPA-PSK / Access Control List on NETGEAR Wireless routers, and is also applicable to access points.

Notes on Configuring Wireless Security on NETGEAR routers:

• You can configure WEP or WPA; however, you cannot enable both at the same time.
• You can configure your Access Control List and also enable WEP or WPA at the same time for additional security.
• After you enable wireless security features on the router or access point, you must configure your wireless clients (wireless computers) with matching settings. Your wireless clients will not be able to connect unless you configure matching settings.
• It's recommended that you enable these wireless security settings from a computer wired directly to the router (or access point).

Configuring WEP Encryption:

• Connect a computer to any one of the four LAN ports of the NETGEAR router.
• Open an Internet Explorer window and type the router IP address, which would be either http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 (by default, refer to your product documentation to determine the default IP address.) In the address bar, press Enter. The login window will then prompt you for a Username and Password. The default Username is admin and the default Password is password
• Click Wireless Settings under the Setup menu.

• Under Security Options, Select WEP (which stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy.)
• Select Authentication Type as Automatic and Encryption Strength as 64-bit (or 128-bit.) You must later configure your wireless computers with the same setting.
• Select Key 1 and enter any 10 hexadecimal digits - any combination of 0-9, A-F (26 digits if you selected 128-bit as the encryption strength) and Apply the settings. Please write down these values as you must later configure your wireless computers with the same setting.

Configuring WPA-PSK Encryption:

• Connect a computer to any one of the four LAN ports of the NETGEAR router.
• Open an Internet Explorer window and type the router IP address, which would be either http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 (by default, refer to your product documentation to determine the default IP address.) In the address bar, press Enter. The login window will then prompt you for a Username and Password. The default Username is admin and the default Password is password
• Click Wireless Settings under the Setup menu.

• Under Security Options, select WPA-PSK (which stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key)
• Enter a word or group of printable characters in the Passphrase box. The Passphrase must be 8 to 63 characters in length.
• Click Apply.

Configuring Access Control List:

Note: Before you enable the access control list, you need to know the MAC address (also known as the Physical Address or Hardware Address) of all your wireless computers. Once you enable the access control list, any wireless client (card) with a MAC Address not listed will NOT be allowed to connect with the router.

• Connect a computer to any one of the four LAN ports of the NETGEAR router.
• Open an Internet Explorer window and type the router IP address, which would be either http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 (by default, refer to your product documentation to determine the default IP address.) In the address bar, press Enter. The login window will then prompt you for a Username and Password. The default Username is admin and the default Password is password
• Click Wireless Settings under the Advanced menu.
• Click Setup Access List.

• Click the Add button.

• Enter the a descriptive Device Name (like HallDesktop) and the MAC Address of the wireless card, and click Add.

• Repeat the last 2 steps to add all wireless clients to the allowed list.
• When you have completed adding all the wireless MAC addressed allowed to connect wirelessly with your router, Check Turn Access Control On.

• Click Apply. Your settings will be saved and only the wireless clients with their MAC addresses listed in the allowed list will be allowed to connect with your router.

For more information on how to set up your router, visit the Setup and Configuration page at MyOpenRouter.com!