Client: Verizon Online
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Contact: Eric Meline, 858-453-2800
Purpose: A 'How-To' for Verizon Internet subscribers who want to build a network in their home

Many times a customer is challenged by the steps required in properly setting up and securing their home network. After meeting with Verizon's Help and Support team, I was tasked with writing and producing this customer-facing tutorial. This segment of the tutorial (one of several) was helpful in walking the customer through the steps involved in properly configuring their wireless router for network security.

 

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EXCERPT

Welcome to the Networking Tutorial for Verizon Fios Internet Service – Wireless Security Precautions.

Introduction

This tutorial will help you through the setup of your wireless network security, using the D-Link wireless router provided in your Verizon Online Internet Service package. Be sure that you’ve already gone through the Network Security Precautions chapter so you’re familiar with common security terms and products.

Wireless Security Considerations (WSC)

A wireless network uses technology that requires additional security measures in order to help keep your connection secure. Because your information is passing through the airwaves, anyone with a wireless computer can intercept it.

WSC List

If you use a wireless network, there are five essential precautions you should take to help ensure your wireless security.

Change your default wireless network name to help prevent hackers, people who “hack”, or break – into, other peoples computers, from accessing your network.

Disable Service Set Identifier (SSID) broadcast to also help prevent hackers from accessing your network.  SSID broadcast transmits a wireless network’s name to enable others to access it.

Enable Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering so that you specify exactly which computers have access to your network.

Change your default router or gateway access password to help keep hackers from accessing your router and changing your security settings.

Enable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption to help keep other wireless computers from intercepting your data.  Note that your network may slow down and your wireless signal may degrade when enabling encryption due to the network load.

For assistance in setting up your advanced feature settings beyond this tutorial, please contact your Verizon Fiber Solutions Center. You can find the contact number in the materials Verizon provided with your router, or on your bill.

WSC D-Link - Login

To log in to your router, enter http://192.168.0.1 into your browser’s address field.

Then enter your user name and password and click OK.  These would be your service user name and password, or any custom login information you may have already set for your router.

WSC D-Link - Home

If you need help with any of the security settings select the Help tab.

Visit D-Link Website

You can also click on D-Link to visit their website for additional help.

WSC D-Link - Change Your Network Name

To change your network name, from the home page click on the wireless button.

When you connect to your wireless network, it identifies itself via a Service Set Identifier (SSID).

Your SSID is really just a name for your wireless router/network, and it can be any name you want.

When you buy your wireless device, it has a default name set by the manufacturer. But hackers know what the default names are, and can use them to gain access to your network.

To help prevent this, change your network name to something unique, and keep changing it regularly.

When you click Apply, your router will restart.

Click continue.

WSC D-Link - Enable WEP Encryption

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption can be used to support secure communication between all computers in your Verizon Fios Network.

In addition to protecting your computers and data, WEP also prevents unauthorized access to your Internet connection.

The passcode you choose, or the one you may have had generated automatically or entered manually during network setup, will be used on any additional computers you add to your network.

To enable WEP (if it’s not already enabled from network setup), select the WEP enable radio button.

In the Key Type dropdown menu make sure HEX is selected.

You can choose 64 bit encryption, or for more security 128 bit encryption.

For 64 bit encryption:

In the WEP Encryption dropdown menu select 64Bit.

In the Key 1 field, enter a combination of ten letters (from A through F only) and numbers ?(0 though 9) as your key.

For 128 bit encryption:

In the WEP Encryption dropdown menu select 128Bit.

In the Key 1 field, enter a combination of twenty-six letters (from A through F only) and numbers (0 through 9) as your key.

You will need this key again if you add computers to your network, so be certain to keep a record of it.

Click the Apply button to save your changes.

Click continue.

Refer to the directions for your wireless adapters to configure your WEP passcode on your networked computers.

WSC D-Link - Change Your Default Access Paqssword

To change your router’s default password, select the tools tab.

Wireless products such as access points and routers have a default password - usually "admin" - set by the factory.

As with SSIDs, hackers know these defaults and can use them to access your wireless device and change your network settings.

To help prevent this, change your default password, and change it again at least every 90 days.

WSC D-Link - Enable MAC Address Filtering

A MAC address is a unique series of numbers and letters assigned by the manufacturer to every computer and network adapter, both Ethernet and wireless.

You can set up your router to allow only your computers, with their unique MAC addresses, to access your network.

Note – do not enable MAC address filtering until AFTER entering the MAC addresses of your other network computers’ network adapters.

If you need help gathering the MAC addresses, click the Get MAC Addresses button.

When you have the MAC addresses to enter, in your router setup select the Advanced tab, then the MAC Filters radio button.

In the Name field enter a name for the computer you’re using to set up router security.

Then enter the MAC addresses you wrote down for your network computers, starting with the address you have for the computer you’re using to set up router security.

If appropriate, make an entry for both the wired Ethernet adapter, then again for the wireless adapter for this PC so you can access the network either way.

For example – name could be First Computer, and it’s MAC address would take this format.

Click apply, then click continue.

Your first computer is now in the list of computers that will be allowed wireless network access.

Add addresses for the rest of the computers’ Ethernet or wireless adapters you want to have access your network.

If you’re setting up your router wirelessly, be sure to enter your wireless network adapter’s MAC address if you want to be able to access your router wirelessly after you enable MAC address filtering.

When all computers are entered, select the second option.

Click apply, then click continue.

END OF EXCERPT