Wireless security. Two words that have had me pulling my hair out. There are many wireless networks in my neighborhood. I became paranoid. I have sensitive data on all three of our computers and I wanted to protect it (as well as keep people from stealing my high speed access.
I use a Netgear WGR614 v2 802.11g wireless router. I have a G4 iBook with an AirPort Extreme card and a HP dv1040 XP laptop with an 802.11g card. I also have an AirPort Express base station that serves swingin’ sexy sounds to the stereo in the living room.
My initial attempt at wireless security was to enable MAC address access control. A valiant effort but not enough (so I’ve read). I’ve also learned of WEP (Wired Equivalency Protection) and WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) – the latter offering greater wireless security.
Here’s how I did it (I’m writing this in hopes that it will help someone else as it took me what seemed like forever to figure this shit out.)
Disable WEP or WPA.
Open AirPort Admin Utility (Applications > Utilities)
Hit the ‘configure’ button
Click the ‘Security Options’ button at the bottom.
Select WPA Personal (make sure you have the most recent firmware from Apple’s website)
Click ‘Update’
I got some message saying this isn’t supported by this network… save anyway.
Now configure your router to use WPA.
Create your password (or keyphrase as they like to call it).
Your AirPort Express should be solid green now.
Enter the same password on any laptops.
A relatively quick and painless task if you figure out how to do things in order!
I’m thinking of getting a WGR614. I’ve not confirmed it will play nicely with my Airport Express. So you’re saying your iBook surfs the net wirelessly via your WGR614 while playing AirTunes (and maybe printing) to your Airport Express, all with WPA Security, right?
Yes.
I’m amazed if you have WPA enabled on both the AE and Netgear with the AE simply connecting to “an existing wireless network” (the Netgear). The WPA connection is solid green but getting Airtunes to work has never been achieved in the 1+ year that I’ve tried. I’ve always had to resort to WEP 128 bit. It should be noted that I have the WGR614v4 though. Even with all the up-to-date firmwares for both the AE and Netgear, WPA is an elusive beast for me.
CVB
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! After much pulling out of hair (of which I have little to spare) I found this page. I have a WGR614v6 and just got an airport express. I could not get them to work together in WPA but after doing things in the order you specified, it works! I pity to think what you had to go through to figure this out. Thanks again.