Netgear router security

acmoses · 12-14-2007, 04:29 PM

I can't figure out how to set a password for my Netgear router. As of right now all my neighbors can use my router at will.

petronius · 12-14-2007, 05:43 PM

You need to configure WEP so that your SSID is not public.

Here are 2 netgear docs you should read:

http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n100684.asp

http://kbserver.netgear.com/inquira/...67#__highlight

The first one explains how WEP works and the 2nd shows you how to configure it on your netgear device.

Cheers!

johnwill · 12-15-2007, 10:32 AM

What is the specific model? I'd STRONGLY recommend WPA instead of WEP, unless your equipment doesn't support it.

I don't advise turning off SSID broadcasts, since that just makes your network harder for you to use. If you have WPA encryption with a strong random key, you are well protected.

acmoses · 12-16-2007, 02:32 PM

I used the advice given by petronius gave and I'm sure it will work just fine, however my PC is asking for a password and I don't have one. I tried admin and password but its not working. Is there a way I can look on my PC for a password that my have been set up without my knowledge?

Thanks ACMOSES

johnwill · 12-16-2007, 06:07 PM

WEP is anemic protection and is crackable in minutes by anyone with commonly available tools on the Internet. However, if that's all the security you need, I won't try to convince you otherwise.

If the router has a password that you don't know, the fix is to do a factory reset and reconfigure. Then you can setup any password you desire.

petronius · 12-16-2007, 06:41 PM

WEP is fairly easy to crack unless your key is dynamic, in which case it could take anywhere from weeks to forerver to break it. WPA would be much more secure if your model supports it. A lot of older netgear routers don't have it but there are firmware upgrades available for some of them on netgear's site.

Here is the doc to configure WPA

http://kbserver.netgear.com/inquira/...75#__highlight

**Cellus** · 12-16-2007, 07:40 PM

"Dynamic WEP" is a bit of a misnomer. First off, it is rare and is proprietary (it isn't a standard). Second, it is only dynamic insomuch as it is the same old static WEP key method except that it changes every X <insert configured time here>. Third, there really is no actual support for it - it was designed more than anything to be a stopgap until WPA and WPA2 came out. It sounds nice on paper, but with WPA out (it is no more difficult to configure than WEP) it is preferred to use that unless your hardware doesn't support WPA. Afterall, why not? WPA at the moment is quite solid.

By the way, 128-bit WEP can now be broken in as little as 60 seconds. Now that's fast.

petronius · 12-18-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellus

By the way, 128-bit WEP can now be broken in as little as 60 seconds. Now that's fast.

QFT - sadly

johnwill · 12-19-2007, 01:11 PM

Fortunately, WPA/WPA2 is, for all practical purposes, uncrackable with a strong random key. The only attack is a dictionary attack, and using a truly random key of numbers, letters, and upper case letters will thwart that nicely.

petronius · 12-19-2007, 01:27 PM

Not plugging in the ethernet cable still ranks the highest on the security list

Wireless...doh!

johnwill · 12-19-2007, 04:32 PM

Yep, not being on the Internet gets close to 100%, but not totally there. Consider if your computer is Tempest certified.

http://www.eskimo.com/~joelm/tempest.html

petronius · 12-19-2007, 05:05 PM

Tempest is close but not totally there, not having a computer at all would be the tops!

johnwill · 12-20-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petronius

Tempest is close but not totally there, not having a computer at all would be the tops!

I guess we won't be hearing from you after you get 100% secure, since you'll have gotten rid of your computer.

petronius · 12-20-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwill

I guess we won't be hearing from you after you get 100% secure, since you'll have gotten rid of your computer.

No way man...I live on the edge!

**Cellus** · 12-20-2007, 04:30 PM

Brainwaves gentlemen. Brainwaves.

petronius · 12-20-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellus

Brainwaves gentlemen. Brainwaves.

Overrated...I quit using those a long time ago

johnwill · 12-21-2007, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petronius

Overrated...I quit using those a long time ago

Why, did you run out?

12-14-2007, 04:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
acmoses Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2 OS: Win. XP	Netgear router security I can't figure out how to set a password for my Netgear router. As of right now all my neighbors can use my router at will.

12-14-2007, 05:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
petronius Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 117 OS: XP SP2	Re: Netgear router security You need to configure WEP so that your SSID is not public. Here are 2 netgear docs you should read: http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n100684.asp http://kbserver.netgear.com/inquira/...67#__highlight The first one explains how WEP works and the 2nd shows you how to configure it on your netgear device. Cheers! Last edited by petronius : 12-14-2007 at 05:44 PM. Reason: wrong link

12-15-2007, 10:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,276 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Netgear router security What is the specific model? I'd STRONGLY recommend WPA instead of WEP, unless your equipment doesn't support it. I don't advise turning off SSID broadcasts, since that just makes your network harder for you to use. If you have WPA encryption with a strong random key, you are well protected. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-16-2007, 02:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
acmoses Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2 OS: Win. XP	Re: Netgear router security I used the advice given by petronius gave and I'm sure it will work just fine, however my PC is asking for a password and I don't have one. I tried admin and password but its not working. Is there a way I can look on my PC for a password that my have been set up without my knowledge? Thanks ACMOSES

12-16-2007, 06:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,276 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Netgear router security WEP is anemic protection and is crackable in minutes by anyone with commonly available tools on the Internet. However, if that's all the security you need, I won't try to convince you otherwise. If the router has a password that you don't know, the fix is to do a factory reset and reconfigure. Then you can setup any password you desire. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-16-2007, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
petronius Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 117 OS: XP SP2	Re: Netgear router security WEP is fairly easy to crack unless your key is dynamic, in which case it could take anywhere from weeks to forerver to break it. WPA would be much more secure if your model supports it. A lot of older netgear routers don't have it but there are firmware upgrades available for some of them on netgear's site. Here is the doc to configure WPA http://kbserver.netgear.com/inquira/...75#__highlight

12-16-2007, 07:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,633 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	Re: Netgear router security "Dynamic WEP" is a bit of a misnomer. First off, it is rare and is proprietary (it isn't a standard). Second, it is only dynamic insomuch as it is the same old static WEP key method except that it changes every X <insert configured time here>. Third, there really is no actual support for it - it was designed more than anything to be a stopgap until WPA and WPA2 came out. It sounds nice on paper, but with WPA out (it is no more difficult to configure than WEP) it is preferred to use that unless your hardware doesn't support WPA. Afterall, why not? WPA at the moment is quite solid. By the way, 128-bit WEP can now be broken in as little as 60 seconds. Now that's fast. __________________ TSF Networking Team HijackThis 5 Step Process Donate! Last edited by Cellus : 12-16-2007 at 07:42 PM.

12-19-2007, 01:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,276 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Netgear router security Fortunately, WPA/WPA2 is, for all practical purposes, uncrackable with a strong random key. The only attack is a dictionary attack, and using a truly random key of numbers, letters, and upper case letters will thwart that nicely. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-19-2007, 01:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
petronius Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 117 OS: XP SP2	Re: Netgear router security Not plugging in the ethernet cable still ranks the highest on the security list Wireless...doh! __________________ - petronius "Do you see what happens, Larry?" Last edited by petronius : 12-19-2007 at 01:29 PM.

12-19-2007, 04:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,276 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Netgear router security Yep, not being on the Internet gets close to 100%, but not totally there. Consider if your computer is Tempest certified. http://www.eskimo.com/~joelm/tempest.html __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

12-19-2007, 05:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
petronius Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 117 OS: XP SP2	Re: Netgear router security Tempest is close but not totally there, not having a computer at all would be the tops! __________________ - petronius "Do you see what happens, Larry?"

12-20-2007, 04:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,633 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	Re: Netgear router security Brainwaves gentlemen. Brainwaves. __________________ TSF Networking Team HijackThis 5 Step Process Donate!

12-21-2007, 12:59 PM	#18 (permalink)
petronius Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 117 OS: XP SP2	Re: Netgear router security <