How do i find my wireless network name (SSID) and encryption key?

If you are trying to set up a router and need to establish the SSID name and WPA encryption key, you will need to sign into the router using the routers IP address. Input the userid and password, then go to the wireless network setup page. Here is where you enable wireless operation, establish the SSID, and generate the encryption key or passphrase.

If you are trying to connect to someone else's wireless network, you need to know their SSID so that when you do a search for available networks you can determine which is theirs. Once that is established, if they give you the encryption key or passphrase, you can attempt to connect to their network. With the encryption key or passphrase, you will not be able to connect.

The SSID is the router's wireless network name.
Network security key
Some later model wireless routers have the Password(ie.Encryption key) and the SSID already configured in the wireless router andthis information is printed on a label on the bottom of the router.
These settings can be used to configure the wireless card and wireless adaptersin your computer/laptop.
If these settings do not suit you, then it can be changed to suit yourrequirements.
The encryption key secures your data and wireless connection from unauthorizedaccess.To configure the wireless settings in the router, connect a LAN cablefrom your computer to the wireless router, then open a Browser on your computerand enter the router's configuration IP address, then enter the admin login andpassword and then go to the wireless settings and configure the SSID andEncryption key.
The router's encryption key can be a Passphrase or the WEP or WPA or WPA2key.If you use the Passphrase method select either WEP or WPA or WPA2 togenerate the encryption key. You can enter the WEP or WPA or WPA2 key with 8 to63 ASCII characters or 64 Hex digits.
Most people use Passphrase which is easier to remember eg. I was born inJanuary 1988.
The strongest and latest security is WPA2, the weakest and oldest is WEP. To connect to your wireless router from the computer/laptop,configure the wireless card in your computer/laptop with the router's wirelesssettings ie SSID, plus the WPA or WPA2 encryption key. Then computer/laptopscan communicate with your wireless router.http://www.fixya.com/support/r10267861-network_security_key

For each PC that needs to connect to the DIR-412 wirelessly, you must ensure that the correct Wireless Network Name (SSID) and encryption key has been entered.
Windows 7 On your computer, go to Control panel --> Network and Sharing Center and Click on "Connect to a Network then select on the Wireless Network Name (SSID) and enter the password/encrytion key.
Windows XP On your computer, go to Control panel --> Network Connection then under the network task pane select View available wireless networks then then select on the Wireless Network Name (SSID) and enter the password/encrytion key.

When you initially configure the wireless interface in the router, you:
* set a SSID, a "name" for your wireless network,
* set an encryption-level. Hint: use 'WPA' or 'WPA2',
* set a password (or "key-code") for your network.

So, configure the router, and then use that SSID/password with your 802.11B wireless adapter to connect to your wireless network.

Your wireless card in your computer or laptop needs to be configured with the router's wireless settings eg. the SSID and encryption key
The encryption key (network key) is in your wireless router, without this key the wireless router won't allow the computer or laptop to connect to this wireless router.
The WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption key is in your router's wireless settings. Log into your router and got to the wireless settings, you will need to get the SSID and the encryption key. Then go to your computer or laptop's wireless card and configure it with the router's SSID and encryption key, so it will then connect to the wireless router and the Internet.

To secure your wireless network from unauthorized access,please click on this link and follow my instructions :-http://www.fixya.com/support/r3559128-wireless_router_security.

If you plan to have a wireless network, you should set it up so that only people you choose can access it. Here are a few options for wireless network security.

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
WEP is a widely used network security method. When you enable WEP, you set up a network security key. This key encrypts the information that one computer sends to another computer across your network. The receiving computer needs the key to decode the information so that it's difficult for someone on another computer to get onto your network and access files without your permission.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
WPA was created to improve the security of WEP. Like WEP, WPA encrypts information, but it also checks to make sure that the network security key has not been modified. WPA also authenticates users to help ensure that only authorized people can access the network. If your networking hardware works with both WEP and WPA security, we recommend that you use WPA.

There are two types of WPA authentication: WPA and WPA2. WPA is designed to work with all wireless network adapters, but it might not work with older routers or access points. WPA2 is more secure than WPA, but it will not work with some older network adapters. WPA is designed to be used with an 802.1X authentication server, which distributes different keys to each user. This is referred to as WPA-Enterprise or WPA2-Enterprise. It can also be used in a pre-shared key (PSK) mode, where every user is given the same passphrase. This is referred to as WPA-Personal or WPA2-Personal.

802.1X authentication
802.1X authentication can help enhance security for 802.11 wireless networks and wired Ethernet networks. 802.1X uses an authentication server to validate users and provide network access. On wireless networks, 802.1X can work with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) keys. This type of authentication is typically used when connecting to a workplace network.

IF THIS ALL DOSEN'T WORK TRY THE FOLLOWING:

Wireless network security recommendations
If you have a wireless network, there are some additional security precautions that you should take.

Use a network security key
If you have a wireless network, you should set up a network security key, which turns on encryption. With encryption, people can't connect to your network without the security key. Also, any information that is sent across your network is encrypted so that only computers that have the key to decrypt the information can read it. This can help avert attempts to access your network and files without your permission. Common wireless network encryption methods are Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA-2.

Change the default administrator name and password on your router or access point
If you have a router or access point, you probably used a default name and password to set up the equipment. Most manufacturers use the same default name and password for all of their equipment, which someone could use to access your router or access point without you knowing it. To avoid that risk, change the default administrator user name and password for your router. Check the information that came with your device for instructions about how to change the name and password.

Change the default SSID
Routers and access points use a wireless network name called a service set identifier (SSID). Most manufacturers use the same SSID for all of their routers and access points. We recommend that you change the default SSID to keep your wireless network from overlapping with other wireless networks that might be using the default SSID. It makes it easier for you to identify which wireless network is yours, if there is more than one nearby, because the SSID is typically shown in the list of available networks. Check the information that came with your device for instructions about how to change the default SSID.

Position your router or access point carefully
Wireless signals can transmit a few hundred feet, so the signal from your network could be broadcast outside of your home. You can help limit the area that your wireless signal reaches by positioning your router or access point close to the center of your home rather than near an outside wall or window.

WEP (wired equivalent privacy)

The privacy protocol specified in IEEE 802.11 to provide wireless LAN users protection against casual eavesdropping. WEP refers to the intent to provide a privacy service to wireless LAN users similar to that provided by the physical security inherent in a wired LAN.


When WEP is active in a wireless LAN, each 802.11 packet is encrypted separately with an RC4 cipher stream generated by a 64-bit RC4 key. This key is composed of a 24-bit initialization vector (IV) and a 40-bit WEP key. The encrypted packet is generated with a bitwise exclusive OR (XOR) of the original packet and the RC4 stream. The IV is chosen by the sender and can be changed periodically so every packet won't be encrypted with the same cipher stream. The IV is sent in the clear with each packet. An additional 4-byte Integrity Check Value (ICV) is computed on the original packet and appended to the end. The ICV (be careful not to confuse this with the IV) is also encrypted with the RC4 cipher stream.

WEP has been widely criticized for a number of weaknesses:

Key management and key size
Key management is not specified in the WEP standard; without interoperable key management, keys will tend to be long-lived and of poor quality. Most wireless networks that use WEP have one single WEP key shared between every node on the network. Access points and client stations must be programmed with the same WEP key. Since synchronizing the change of keys is tedious and difficult, keys are seldom changed. Also, the 802.11 standard does not specify any WEP key sizes other than 40 bits. 

The IV is too small

WEP's IV size of 24 bits provides for 16,777,216 different RC4 cipher streams for a given WEP key, for any key size. Remember that the RC4 cipher stream is XOR-ed with the original packet to give the encrypted packet that is transmitted, and the IV is sent in the clear with each packet. The problem is IV reuse. If the RC4 cipher stream for a given IV is found, an attacker can decrypt subsequent packets that were encrypted with the same IV or can forge packets.

Weakness: The ICV algorithm is not appropriate
The WEP ICV is based on CRC-32, an algorithm for detecting noise and common errors in transmission. CRC-32 is an excellent checksum for detecting errors, but an awful choice for a cryptographic hash. Better-designed encryption systems use algorithms such as MD5 or SHA-1 for their ICVs. 

Authentication messages can be easily forged

SSID (Service Set IDentifier)
The SSID (Service Set IDentifier) is a token which identifies an 802.11 (Wi-Fi) network. 


The SSID is a secret key which is set by the network administrator.

You must know the SSID to join an 802.11 network. However, the SSID can be discovered by network sniffing. By default, the SSID is part of the packet header for every packet sent over the WLAN.
SSID Security Issues

The fact that the SSID is a secret key instead of a public key creates a key management problem for the network administrator. Every user of the network must configure the SSID into their system. If the network administrator seeks to lock a user out of the network, the administrator must change the SSID of the network, which will require reconfiguration of the SSID on every network node. Some 802.11 NICs allow you to configure several SSIDs at one time.
Default SSID's

Most 802.11 access point vendors allow the use of an SSID of "any" to enable an 802.11 NIC to connect to any 802.11 network. This is known to work with wireless equipment from Buffalo Technologies, Cisco, D-Link, Enterasys, Intermec, Lucent, and Proxim. Other default SSID's include "tsunami", "101", "RoamAbout Default Network Name", "Default SSID", and "Compaq".
Disabling SSID Broadcasting

Many Wireless Access Point (WAP) vendors have added a configuration option which lets you disable broadcasting of the SSID. This adds little security because it is only able to prevent the SSID from being broadcast with Probe Request and Beacon frames. The SSID must be broadcast with Probe Response frames. In addition, the wireless access cards will broadcast the SSID in their Association and Reassociation frames. Because of this, the SSID cannot be considered a valid security tool.
An SSID by any other name

The SSID is also referred to as the ESSID (Extended Service Set IDentifier).


Airsnort, Aircrack 2.1, Cain & Abel are some of the wireless packet sniffing tools which can decode the authorization key.

To set up wireless router security, there are four main steps, which are the same for most routers. These are:

1) Login to your router, using a wired connection
2) Change the router login password
3) Change the network name (SSID)
4) Enable WPA encryption.
************DETAILS************
1) Login to your router, using a wired (Ethernet) connection.
Make sure you have a cabled connection to your router. Then open a web browser, and type the router’s IP address into the address bar. For example, this is http://192.168.0.1
If you log in successfully, you should then see the router configuration screen.
2) Change the router login password.
To change the router password, find a menu option such as Setup, Tools, Administration, Basic Settings, Management, or Utilities.
Set and confirm a new login password. Click ‘Save/Apply’ when finished.
3) Change the SSID (network name):
The SSID or Network Name is the name you see when you are looking for an ‘available wireless network’.
To access this setting, find a menu option such as Wireless, Wireless Security, Security, or perhaps Advanced Settings.
Change the SSID from the default, to anything you like. It is case sensitive, and you can use up to 32 letters – but do not use something that could identify you, or your location. Click ‘Save’ or ‘Apply’ when finished.
4) Enable WPA encryption
Find the Wireless Security or Wireless Encryption Options section - often in the same section as the SSID (eg for Netgear – it’s still in Wireless Settings).
You may have a number of encryption options. Select WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK (good choices to start with).
You then need to enter a network key. The box to enter this may be labelled Network Key: it may also be labelled WPA-PSK, WPA Shared Key, PSK, Security key, Passphrase, Pre-shared key, Authentication key .
Note down your network key carefully. You will need this to connect wirelessly. Click ‘Apply/Save’ when finished.
That's it - you have done enough to secure your network, and can close the screen.

Hi there, and welcome to FixYa 
Connect the pc with a cable to any of the four LAN connections on the back of the router.
DO SET THE ADMIN password as the first thing you do.
goto -> administration -> management, fill out the router password and reenter it to confirm.
Give your network a name (SSID) so that you can find yours if there is more around you. Network name are called SSID, short for service set identifier
goto -> wireless -> basic wireless settings, Wireless Network Mode : set to mixed,  
Wireless Network Name (SSID), set a name well known to you, NOT your address :-)
now set the  Wireless Channel :  to any other than channel 6, which is the one everybody use. Too much electrical noise might interfere with your transmitting. 
Now, go to Wireless -> Wireless connection, to set the Encryption security settings.
Set security mode to WEP,
Set the Transmit key to your choice, if you know that you wireless card has 4 keys as well, I would use key 4.
Set WEP encryption to: 128 bit 26 hex digits.
Go down to key 4, and find combination of numbers and the letters a, b, c, d, e or f.
(ex. 414243444546474849404a4b4c) = 26 hex digits. 
Save settings.
Now, before you leave, WRITE DOWN your SSID, your password and key 4 with your settings, as you need to set your wireless card with the same settings.
Start -> settings -> network and right click your wireless connection and click properties.
At the top, choose Wireless network, find your network, (your SSID) choose properties and set these settings as you wrote down from the router.
Now, remove the cable and logon wireless.

/Teis
Do let me know how you are getting along.

u need to first configure teh wire less on the router>go to the main computer>and open browse window and and in teh address bar type- 192.168.0.1 hit enter u can see login screen
user name-- admin lower case or blank
password-- admin lower case or blank or password
and u can see the set up scren and select wire less setup in the left side and follow this

Wireless Settings Wireless Network Name (SSID): Region: --- Select Region --- Africa Asia Australia Canada Europe France Israel Japan Mexico South America United States Channel: 11 Wireless Access Point Enable Wireless Access Point Allow Broadcast of Name (SSID) Wireless Card Access List Security Encryption (WEP) Authentication Type: Automatic Open System Shared Key Encryption Strength: Disable 64bit 128bit Security Encryption (WEP) Key Passphrase: Key 1: Key 2: Key 3: Key 4: