Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

OllieP · Nov 25, 2006, 03:42 AM

Hi

I have followed the instructions on securing my wireless network using a WEP password.
From my web browser (192.168.1.1)
After choosing WEP Encryption 128 bits 26 hex digits, choosing a Passphrase
and generating a code in Key 1, I then clicked 'Save settings' This is where my web browser
locked up half way through saving. It actually loses the internet connection from here on.
I get the blue bar half way that suggests it is saving - but it hangs there.

Anyone help?

chabig · Nov 25, 2006, 06:45 AM

I've had trouble with LinkSys routers and Safari. Try Firefox.

OllieP · Nov 25, 2006, 10:23 AM

Thanks

Tried that but got exactly the same response from Firefox.
How do I check if my mac automatically detects an ip address?

ghporter · Nov 25, 2006, 10:24 AM

I'm guessing that you did this through wireless; it locked up because you were basically booted from your network.

New, but more important issue: what hardware are you using? If your router supports it, USE WPA INSTEAD OF WEP. Why? WEP is poo (bad poo at that) while WPA is truly secure, easy to use and robust.

But NEVER configure a wireless router or access point via wireless. ALWAYS connect to it with a cable. Some devices won't even give you access to some configuration settings unless you're wired in.

Originally Posted by OllieP

How do I check if my mac automatically detects an ip address?

Do you mean "how do I check if my Mac gets an automatic IP address?" Go to Network Preferences, select the adapter in question and look at its settings. Automatic addresses come through "DHCP" so if DHCP is selected you should get an automatic address. This is the default setting for almost every network adapter in the universe, by the way, so unless you (or someone) has changed that setting, it should be correct.

OllieP · Nov 25, 2006, 10:34 AM

Hey thanks for this.

Im using a new Mac Mini and my router is a linksys WRT54GS

ghporter · Nov 25, 2006, 03:36 PM

The WRT54GS certainly does support WPA, so use that!!!! Plug a cable between the Mini and the router (on the LAN side) and make all your settings, then you should be able to run the Mini wireless.

OllieP · Nov 26, 2006, 07:36 AM

Thanks ghporter, I have applied WPA security and set a password!

Cheers

ballzdeep · Dec 11, 2006, 10:25 AM

Ollie - make SURE you use a LOONG password multicharacter phrase. we4u23**#($jdf stuff like that of at least 21 characters long.

Look up 'cracking wpa' in google... if you use short of dictionary passwords, wpa is easy to break.

ghporter · Dec 11, 2006, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by ballzdeep

Ollie - make SURE you use a LOONG password multicharacter phrase. we4u23**#($jdf stuff like that of at least 21 characters long.

Look up 'cracking wpa' in google... if you use short of dictionary passwords, wpa is easy to break.

To be more accurate, the WPA passphrase to key algorithm is relatively easy to crack if the passphrase is short and contains dictionary words rather than random characters. I always recommend VERY random strings of characters. This tool is VERY handy. And no, it's not platform specific, it's just that security is a kind of "sore spot" for Windows managers.