How do I set up a new password on my Linksys wireless router?

How to Configure a Linksys Wireless Router to Set Up a Password

• Answer:

  A wireless router is connected over radio channels to all computers on its wireless network. The transmissions on those radio channels are unencrypted by default; this is known as an "open" wireless network. To prevent any unauthorized user from eavesdropping on all traffic on the network, you can assign a password or passphrase to the network. Only computers that know the passphrase will be able to join the network and to decrypt the ratio transmissions. You can configure your Linksys wireless router so that the wireless network will be encrypted. Difficulty: Moderate Things You'll Need Ethernet cable Instructions Connect your computer to any of the numbered ports on the back of the router. Log in to the computer. Launch a Web browser on the computer. Navigate to the router's configuration utility. For example, for a Linksys WRT54GS router, the configuration utility is located at Web address "192.168.1.1." Go into the wireless network security options of your router. For example, on a WRT54GS, click on "Wireless," then on "Wireless security." Select the type of encryption that the network will use. For example, on a WRT54GS, click on the drop-down menu next to "Security Mode" to select the encryption type. WPA2 is the most secure choice for home users. Enter the network's password. For example, on a WRT54GS using WPA2, type the password into the "WPA2 Shared Key" field. The password can contain spaces, upper and lower case letters, digits and punctuation; for better security, make it hard to guess. Click on "Save Settings." At that point, the Linksys wireless router will be set up to require a password for the wireless network.