Wi-Fi security is crucial. A poorly configured network can allow unauthorized people to access your data. Much like how an account password controls who can access a user account, a network security key is at the core of Wi-Fi security. Let's break down what these keys are and how to use them effectively.
Wireless keys are a combination of letters and digits in sequences called strings.
A security key forWi-Fi is a password required for devices to connect to a network. All devices on a network, from your router to your phone, share a common key, which can be represented in different formats:
Wi-Fi devices convert both ASCII and hex keys into binary numbers that become the actual key value used by the Wi-Fi hardware to encrypt data sent over the wireless link.
Some Wi-Fi devices support only hex keys and disallow entering passphrase characters or report an error when you're trying to save a passphrase.
The most common security options for home networking include:
Wi-Fi key restrictions depend on the options chosen as follows:
Additional rules apply to all of the above options when making Wi-Fi keys:
To ensure all devices on a home or local network are configured correctly with the same Wi-Fi key first set a key for the router (or another access point), then systematically update each client one by one to use the matching string.
The exact steps for applying a Wi-Fi key to a router or other device vary slightly depending on the specific hardware involved, but as a general rule:
Because the sequence of numbers and letters in a Wi-Fi key can be long, mistyping and forgetting them is common. To find the key string currently in use for a wireless home network, log in to the local router as an administrator and look up the value from the appropriate console page.
A device can't authenticate with the router unless it has the correct key, so you may have to connect your device to the router using an Ethernet cable.
Some home routers come with Wi-Fi security options turned on and default keys pre-installed. Such a router typically has a sticker on the bottom showing the key string. Although these keys are private and generally safe to use within a home, the stickers enable anyone inside a home to see its network settings and connect additional client devices to the network without your knowledge. To avoid this risk, override the key on such a router with a different string when you first install it.
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