How do I hide my router's password? Windows 7 'Starter'__

Anonymous
2010-01-01T23:23:29+00:00

Hi,

We just got a Lenovo S10 Netbook with Win 7 'Starter' version for my daughter and I have a question about configuring the Wifi access.  This is my first exposure to Win 7, so I'll describe things as best I can.

I clicked on the "Internet Access" icon in the tray and up came the list of Wireless Network Connections.  I selected the one for our WPA-PSK encrypted router and cut and pasted my ~30 character 'Network Security Key' (passphrase/password) and, bingo, I was connected to the internet and websurfing just fine.

Here is my question.  How to I permenently hide my router's 'Network Security Key'? 

When I go back to the Wireless Network Connections and right click my router and select 'Properties" and go to the "Security" tab, there is a small check box labelled "Show Characters" that will toggle back and forth between a string of dots and the 'plain text' 'Network Security Key' for anyone to read.  I'm not willing to keep her set up to use our network if anyone with access to her Netbook can look up my router's WPA password. 

I have quite a few devices connected wirelessly to our network, but this is the only one where I can see the password in plain text.  The others only show a string of stars or dots to 'encrypt' the display of the password.

I will appreciate any help and so will the daughter that hopes to keep accessing the internet.

many thanks,  BDT

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2010-01-02T11:36:17+00:00

AFAIK you can't override that, although I could be wrong about that.

As far as others getting your wireless key from her netbook make sure your daughters account is astandard user account and that she does not have administrator permissions. That way if she tried to see the wireless security properties for your wireless network she can't unless she enters the administrator password. In the example screen shot if I am logged in as a standard user and try to check the Show characters checkbox UAC pops up and requests my administrative user password.

http://cid-25ab668da65c8fbe.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Windows%20images/Showcharacters.png

In all cases make sure the administrative user accounts are password protected with a strong password and access to those is severely restricted.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Why-use-a-standard-user-account-instead-of-an-administrator-account

FWIW I run as a standard user 99% of the time on my Windows 7 laptop. My wife runs as a standard user 100% of the time on her XP Pro desktop. When I setup my PCs I create an administrative user, ie. Root in my case, and the required number of standard users for each machine. All are password protected. Root is only used to install programs, change system stuff, security settings, etc...etc...etc...

MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience, "When all else fails, read the instructions"

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-10-07T02:31:03+00:00

    For me, the issue is that my son can see the password, and put it in his itouch, Wii, phone, or share it with his friends fortheirdevices. Next thing I know I have a letter from my ISP that they've cut my service because of illegally downloaded movies and music. So my option is to set up a separate admin account and be forced to PW protect it? I don'twantto log in every time I fire up my PC. This seems a bit regressive in security protocols.

    I am having a similar problem as this.  My son is 17 and has his own computer.  He started college.  It is his that he purchased with his own money and he is the admin on his own computer.  I logged him onto my wireless router so he wouldn't know the pass code.  He used the feature check box (which I didn't realize was there the first time because it didn't exist on our old laptop using XP) and told his neighbor buddies about the pass code to my wireless.  Just to say, I found they were using it for all kinds of "internet fun".  I since put openDNS on my network and changed the pass code but would feel a lot better if he couldn't simply check this option to see my wireless pass code again.  He's not a techy kid and isn't familiar with the online hacks (yet) but his friends are and use backtrack and other types of linux and hacking software to hack my network once they have access.  It was amazing the folders I found on my buffalo NAS box that I didn't want a password on since only those with my network access could get into.  It would be nice to make it less simple for my son to share my network password without making him a "user" and not a admin of his own laptop????   Simply put can you get rid of this optioned check box logged in as a admin on a computer?

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-09-27T16:18:23+00:00

    The original question was how to hide the password. I think you just don't understand or dozed off the point. It doesn't matter why or for what reasons he or she wants to hide password. I myself would like to know because i work at a center where wifi is shared and would like to know how to hide it in windows 7. Focus on the QUESTION. thanks and good luck finding an answer that works.

    The point is that as a standard user your daughter will NOT be able to see the network encryption key irregardless of design considerations made by MSFT in Windows 7.

    Even if she could, she can't DO anything with it other than connect to the network. I really don't understand the paranoia of the OP....

    If you find my response helpful, please click on the "Vote as Helpful" button!Thank you! My Blog

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-05T15:20:20+00:00

    Why would you want to hide it? I don't understand.

    Why would I connect a device to my network that can display my router's WPA password to anyone except me?  Suppose that a guest (such as my daughter) wishes to use the network, the way WIN 7 seems to work, the password is readable to the guest or anyone else that has access to the WIN 7 Netbook.

    This is a HUGE security hole.  I have multiple wireless music streaming clients, a MacBook and a WIN XP laptop, none of which show the wireless password once it has been entered and saved to the device.

    On the flip side, I have had people set up my WIN XP laptom to access their network by setting up their router's password.  Once set up, I can log in over and over, but I cannot see what the password is.  Fine for my needs and minimal security risk for them.  The device can access their network, but the password can't be passed along to another device or person.

    Well if you are concerned about the security of your wireless then we have a solution, if I tell you there is no option to hide it provided by the company but yes we can hide it by some other means as i believe this worked for me you may like it as well this problem came to me when I got wireless at my property then I also felt the requirement to hide the wireless key and eventually I spent  a long time searching for the solution but i couldn't find but I found an alternative I hope you are also going to take help from it and going to appreciate

    Hide wireless network key

    If you require some more security option then you can check these links also

    How can I secure my wireless network?

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-05T15:19:09+00:00

    Hi,

    We just got a Lenovo S10 Netbook with Win 7 'Starter' version for my daughter and I have a question about configuring the Wifi access.  This is my first exposure to Win 7, so I'll describe things as best I can.

    I clicked on the "Internet Access" icon in the tray and up came the list of Wireless Network Connections.  I selected the one for our WPA-PSK encrypted router and cut and pasted my ~30 character 'Network Security Key' (passphrase/password) and, bingo, I was connected to the internet and websurfing just fine.

    Here is my question.  How to I permenently hide my router's 'Network Security Key'? 

    When I go back to the Wireless Network Connections and right click my router and select 'Properties" and go to the "Security" tab, there is a small check box labelled "Show Characters" that will toggle back and forth between a string of dots and the 'plain text' 'Network Security Key' for anyone to read.  I'm not willing to keep her set up to use our network if anyone with access to her Netbook can look up my router's WPA password. 

    I have quite a few devices connected wirelessly to our network, but this is the only one where I can see the password in plain text.  The others only show a string of stars or dots to 'encrypt' the display of the password.

    I will appreciate any help and so will the daughter that hopes to keep accessing the internet.

    many thanks,  BDT

    Well if you are concerned about the security of your wireless then we have a solution, if I tell you there is no option to hide it provided by the company but yes we can hide it by some other means as i believe this worked for me you may like it as well this problem came to me when I got wireless at my property then I also felt the requirement to hide the wireless key and eventually I spent  a long time searching for the solution but i couldn't find but I found an alternative I hope you are also going to take help from it and going to appreciate

    Hide wireless network key

    If you require some more security option then you can check these links also

    How can I secure my wireless network?

    Was this answer helpful?

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