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

Anonymous

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

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Anonymous

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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62 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-08-11T06:23:43+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.
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Barb Bowman 80,810 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2010-08-11T08:41:26+00:00

many higher end routers will mask both the admin password for access to the

router and the WPA2 security key with *** after they are setup. but this won't

stop anyone from using wired Ethernet from plugging in to an available port.

a high end router would let you lock down access by mac address.

However, I can't speak to how you should control your son and his friends from

hacking into whatever security you set up.

On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:23:43 +0000, Barkleyfan wrote:

>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 fortheir devices. 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'twant to log in every time I fire up my PC. This seems a bit regressive in security protocols.

Barb Bowman

http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
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Anonymous

2010-08-21T19:44:24+00:00

ok how do you change or put a password on your router so people cannot access the internet using a say laptop thats wireless (off your router??)
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Anonymous

2010-08-21T19:49:24+00:00

ok how do you change or put a password on your router so people cannot access the internet using a say laptop thats wireless (off your router??)

Hi

You read your specific Wireless Router manual.

If available in the Router, try copying the HEX string of the security and paste it into the Wireless Card security entry instead of using the passphrase

It also possible that the Wireless card is old, or uses old drivers, and it does not support the encryption that you are trying to use.

In general.

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security

Switching Off SSID (same has No Security. SSID can be easily sniffed even if it is Off)

MAC Filtering______(Band Aid if nothing else is available, MAC number can be easily Spoofed).

WEP64____(Easy, to "Break" by knowledgeable people).

WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).

The three above are Not considered safe.

Safe Starts here at WPA.

WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Break).

WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)

WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP bellow SP3 and did not updated it, you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html

Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET
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