unsecured default wireless network

[menk]

Hello

My network list contains one security enabled network and the default as unsecured one. I'm not sure if I had inadvertantly created both as I muddled through setting up a secured network. Though I have Removed the default unsecured network under the Wireless Network Connection Properties, it always appears whenever I refresh the network list.

Can I remove this default and how? Thanks.

Menk

[bassman]

Hello menk and welcome to http://pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif
How close are your neighbors? Is it possible one of them has an unsecured network, therefore your wireless card is picking that up? Let us know and we can go from there. ;)

[menk]

Thank you for your response. I live in an apartment block, so my neighbours are pretty close by. You might be right about my picking up the unsecured network since I have noticed other networks in my list when I started going wireless though I have not seen them lately for sometime now. Is there a way to ascertain if that unsecured default network has been set up in my pc?

[PrntRhd]

When you set up your access point/router, it helps to change your SSID name to something unique that you recognize. When you connect to your unique name it connects to yours only. When you secure that connection it keeps others from connecting to yours, so your unsecured default network no longer will exist.

The list containing the default unsecured one is only the list of possible connections in your vicinity.

[YODA74]

I would put a flyer up in the entrance to your building, saying "Urgent News for wireless users in this building, Contact flat #"
I also saw a program that runs on linux that gives you the exact location of the wifi signal but cannot find it now...

Accessing the computer is illegal, accessing information on the hard drive is illegal, writing files to that computer is illegal.


I would let people in the building know they have an open airway

[menk]

I have my own SSID name and I'm not sure waving a flyer would do the trick since I have buildings all around me! I still want to know how to check if that unsecured default has been set up in my pc. If not, I can live with having the owner of that default in my vicinity.

BTW, can someone please enlighten me on the difference between the WEP encryption, which I have, and WPA and WPA-PSK? Thanks.

Menk

[PrntRhd]

Strongest to weakest:
WEP is weakest in protection.
WPA-PSK is WPA Home with a preassigned key, & usually a TPIK encryption. We sometimes call this WPA as apposed to WEP. Important to use a non-dictionary passphrase with WPA.
There is a stronger WPA for business that uses Radius servers.

If you can connect to your default unsecured network without a key, then your system is not secured.

[menk]

How do I go about changing my encryption to WPA-PSK? Does this involving resetting my linksys as well?

[bassman]

Since we don't know what model router you have, it's tough for us to point you in the right direction. On my Linksys WRT54G, I click on "Wireless", then on "Wireless Security". There is a drop down box for "Security Mode".

[Rick]

You need to set the security and other options in your router/access point FIRST
Then match those settings in your systems
be it laptop or desktop

You can also use the Manage wifi connections to remove the unwanted connections
Like the neighbors unsecured connection

When you set up the connection with a pass phrase you can set it to auto connect when it is present
This over rides the windoz default of grabbing the strongest signal

[Whyzman]

Since you apparently have a Linksys router, I would strongly suggest you availing yourself of the Linksys tech-support option. One of the first things they will probably have you do is update your firmware. I have found them to be very helpful with setting things up and securing your network...