Using the Internet Safely For Seniors

Protect Your Wireless Network

If you set up a wireless router but didn’t set up security passwords or

activate encryption, chances are good that your network and your com-

puter aren’t protected. But you can correct that fairly easily by following

the instructions provided by Microsoft or Apple. (Note:Doing this

means that when you want someone to access your wireless network

from another computer, she will have to get the password or key from

you before she can go online.)

To protect an existing Windows Vista wireless network, follow these

steps:

1. Choose Start➪Control Panel.

2.Click the Network and Internetlink.

3.In the resulting dialog box click the Network and Sharing

Centerlink.

4.In the Network and Sharing Center window in the left

pane, click the Set Up a Connection or Networklink.

5.In the next window, click Set Up a Wireless Router or

Access Point.

6.In the resulting Set Up a Wireless Router or Access Point

window, click the Connect to a Networklink.

7. In the resulting Connect to a Network window (see Figure
   15-18), right-click your network and choose Properties.

8.In the resulting Wireless Network Properties dialog box

(see Figure 15-19), choose an Encryption Type. This is

typically WEP. When you select WEP, a security key

appears.

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Part IV: Being Proactive