Which security option is safest?

[Rayz]

I have a Linksys/Cisco BEFW11S4 wireless router and a Sprint ADSL model 645ME A1 modem. Dell 8400, XP media center 2005, 3ghz, 1gig ram, 2x160 gig HD. When I go into set-up for the wirless security it gives me multiple options - WEP, WPA pre-shared key,WPA Radius, Radius. I have it set to WEP at this time, but I understand that WEP is not very safe anymore. Please advise for maximum security, and also inform me if there are any changes to be made in the network connections utility of the OS. Thanks in advance.

[YeOldeStonecat]

WPA, combined with XP service pack 2, is newer and stronger.

Radius...that's usually combined with a separate full blown Radius server..very safe, but I doubt you'd want to pony up the money for that.

If you wish for added security, enable MAC filtering.

Make sure you change the default admin password for your router too.

[Rayz]

I'm new to wireless and when I try to change to WAP pre-shared key, the field that says shared key- is blank. How do I generate a key?

[Rayz]

I have really goofed- I can't connect to my wireless network. It just keeps tryng to aquire an address. I have connected to the on board ethernet directly to the modem and I am still trying to figure it out--- any help?

[Rayz]

I had to call linksys, the tech said that sometimes WPA does not work. I had to resort back to WEP. I just wondered if that was true? :confused:Thanks for the help and- any thoughts as to why WPA didn't work?

[YeOldeStonecat]

XP works much easier with service pack 2, when it comes to wireless. I've not fiddled with media center version, dunno if that's different at all when it comes to networking components.

Latest NIC drivers for the wireless NIC? Updated firmware version on the router?

[Rayz]

What a mess!!! I upgraded the firmware on the linksys router and everything crashed! I couldn't even get connected through the onboard ethernet card. I called sprint and had to reconfigure the modem so I could connect via ethernet. Then I had to call Linksys and reconfigure the router- from scratch. All toghether I spent about 2 hours on the phone, and finally everything works. I just wanted to let you know so you could warn others about the upgrade firmware for the BEFW11S4 broadband router (1.52.02 is the build). Be careful upgrading to this firmware. Thanks!

[YeOldeStonecat]

Did you reset router to defaults, and disable antivirus real time protection, before proceeding with the firmware upgrade?