Setup WEP Security On A Linksys Router

Before discussing the procedure that you must follow to setup WEP on your Linksys wireles router in order to protect access to your wireless home network, let us see what WEP encryption is. WEP or Wired Equivalent Privacy is a 64-bit string including 10 hexadecimal figures or a 128-bit WEP string with 26 hexadecimal figures. The WEP encryption blocks unauthorized users from accessing your wireless home network using your WEP key. In addition, the WEP key will also secure your wireless transmissions/communications from being accessed or received by other malicious users.

The Linksys wireless router such as WRT54G supports up to three of wireless security types, which are WPA, WEP and WPA2 Personal. To set up WEP Security on your Linksys router, simply follow the instructions of the procedure below:

Instruction 1: Open your Linksys router's web-based set up interface using your favorite Internet browser
such as Mozilla Firefox. In the Address bar, type your Linksys router's IP address, and then press on Enter. A login dialog box will appear prompting you to type your Linksys router's username and password. Keep in mind that the default IP Address of Linksys routers is 192.168.1.1.

Instruction 2: Once your Linksys wireless router's web-based setup interface appears, click on the Wireless tab, and then click on the Wireless Security sub tab.

Instruction 3: In the Security Mode drop-down list, choose WEP.

Instruction 4: Under WEP Encryption select 64 bits 10 hex digits.

Instruction 5: In the Passphrase field, type a unique word, and then click on Generate.

Instruction 6: The Linksys wireless router will generate a result string containing a set of letters and numbers shown in the area supplied for Key 1. Bear in mind to write what is in Key 1 in a piece of paper in order to use it later. This secret key will be used as your wireless security password whenever you want to connect a wireless device to your wireless home network. Therefore, you must keep this password confidential and you may give to trusted users solely.

Instruction 7: Click the Save Settings button.