Securing Home Network (Many Questions)

KJS

KJS

New Member
My dad a few years back created a router so he could get internet reception for his VAIO Laptop (which is still in use) and since then two more computers (my sister's laptop and desktop) and an iTouch have been using our 'network'. The other computers I plan to install the same protection as I have (my sister's computers are Vista's and dad's is an XP) They are probably virus-infected since they have been using an unupdated Norton Anti-Virus.

I'm currently on the original desktop that the router starts from, and I don't know anything about my router's work and anything. I want to know about what I can do to my router, what I can do to secure it even more + other facts. I just know that when people want to connect to it, they have to insert a password. It is a Belkin router that is 802.11g.

I recently decided to protect my computer, and I installed the following security programs on it:

AVG Free 8.0
Spybot Search & Destroy
COMODO Firewall Pro

My desktop is:

Sony VAIO VGC-RB50
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 640 (3.2 GHz)
FSB - 800MHz
512MB of PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM
250GB 7200RPM Serial ATA(TM) HDD
Running Windows XP

Where can I control my router? Is there anything I can do further secure my network connection? I tried looking around and there is practically nothing. In my Network Connections I see:

1394 Connection
Connected
1394 Net Adapter

and

Local Area Connection
Connected
Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection

What are these things? What do they mean? Are any of these connections my router?

My main concern is just securing the network connection so people cannot hack in and do whatever they want to all the computers connected to it. Are their any long guides that you can recommend me to read or anything? I don't know much about networks and routers so I need you guys to fill me in.

Thanks
 
KJS said:
My dad a few years back created a router so he could get internet reception for his VAIO Laptop (which is still in use) and since then two more computers (my sister's laptop and desktop) and an iTouch have been using our 'network'. The other computers I plan to install the same protection as I have (my sister's computers are Vista's and dad's is an XP) They are probably virus-infected since they have been using an unupdated Norton Anti-Virus.

I'm currently on the original desktop that the router starts from, and I don't know anything about my router's work and anything. I want to know about what I can do to my router, what I can do to secure it even more + other facts. I just know that when people want to connect to it, they have to insert a password. It is a Belkin router that is 802.11g.

I recently decided to protect my computer, and I installed the following security programs on it:

AVG Free 8.0
Spybot Search & Destroy
COMODO Firewall Pro

My desktop is:

Sony VAIO VGC-RB50
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 640 (3.2 GHz)
FSB - 800MHz
512MB of PC-3200 400MHz DDR SDRAM
250GB 7200RPM Serial ATA(TM) HDD
Running Windows XP

Where can I control my router? Is there anything I can do further secure my network connection? I tried looking around and there is practically nothing. In my Network Connections I see:

1394 Connection
Connected
1394 Net Adapter

and

Local Area Connection
Connected
Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection

What are these things? What do they mean? Are any of these connections my router?

My main concern is just securing the network connection so people cannot hack in and do whatever they want to all the computers connected to it. Are their any long guides that you can recommend me to read or anything? I don't know much about networks and routers so I need you guys to fill me in.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Router Access will usually be by loading up your web browser and going to http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.0.1.
Make sure you have the user name and password of the router before you log in. If you don't know what they are do a google search for default router passwords for your model number.

As for securing your network. Ensure that your router's firewall is online and and that the only ports open in the port forwarding section / open ports are those that are needed. This varies on situation when it comes to ports. In addition, if you really want to secure your connection on the wireless side, I would recommend disabling SSID and ensure you are using WPA instead of WEP.

Hope this helps.
 
I'm using Firefox, and when I click on both links it says, "Network Timeout".

I have no idea how to to the rest.
 
To access your router do the following. Start>Run>Cmd. In the black box that appears type ipconfig. Look for an entry that says Default Gateway. That is the numbers that you will use in the address bar of your browser. You will still need the user name password if one has been set up. If not then Google your router model number and fine a list of default passwords used.
 
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@terii, that worked. I was brought to the Belkin website.

Thank you, I signed in and it worked!

----QUESTIONS----

1. What should I choose for Security Mode for the Router?
WPA-PSK (no server)
128bit WEP
64bit WEP
WPA (with radius server)

When I got there the setting was set at WPA-PSK (no sever).
 
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