FAQs

Securing your Wireless Network

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Details: Parent Category: Frequently Asked Xbox Live Questions; Created on Monday, 10 May 2010 20:17; Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 12:53; Written by Administrator

PLEASE READ THIS PAGE VERY CAREFULLY

Wireless routers are all the rage these days, unfortunately not enough advice is given to the customer when wireless routers are purchased.

You must ensure that you secure your wireless network, otherwise you can be leaving yourself open to the following:-

Identity Fraud (shredding you bills is one thing, but your details are probably sat on your PC as well, there's no need to root in bins anymore!)
Hijacking your PC for downloading information/pictures from unfit sites
Bandwidth theft why pay for the internet when you can use your neighbours

As well as the chance that someone could steal the bandwidth you've paid for, people could also access the computers on your network if they have the know how. Think of an unsecured wireless network as running a really long Ethernet cable out of your window and onto the street and letting any passers by hook up to your network and take a look around your PC... your passwords, bank details, emails, documents and use your PC to look at unsuitable sites on the internet.

They would be bypassing your firewall and any other security measures because they are already on the "safe" side of your network. More and more people are going wireless, don't trust people in your neighbourhood or roaming wireless users not to have a nosey around. Stop them from the outset.

Before securing your connection, make sure you've been on live first, as trying to do everything at once is not recommended. Its easier to get everything working and then add security piece by piece.

Here are my recommendations for securing your wireless connection (all of these are available on the Netgear equipment and should be available on other routers).

Do the steps below one at a time. There's no rush. Do one security step, then make sure live is still working, then move onto the next.

That way you can easily back out a change if you do it wrong.

Change your SSID from its default to a different word (use numbers and letters) - Dont leave it as NETGEAR or Linksys etc etc.
Use WEP or WPA to encrypt your traffic - Use WEP as a minimum if your router supports it. But WPA-PSK is better if you can use that.
Use a Wireless Access List to control what devices can connect by enter the MAC Address of the equipment into your router. - This allows only the equipment you have chosen to connect to your network.
Stop broadcasting your SSID - If people don't know your wireless network exists in the first place, they won't try to connect to you.

I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to secure your network. Its not difficult to achieve and it doesn't take long. So please do it.

Which is best WEP or WPA/WPA2?

WEP is breakable in minutes these days but its better than nothing so if its your only option use it.
WPA is also breakable but takes a bit longer, it can be broken by using a "dictionary attack" therefore to ensure the best chance of securing your network I would advise using a WPA key of over 26 characters and complete garbarge by that I mean a string of characters that means nothing like !$G^*k().:@m/~@1231 etc etc you get the idea. A pain to type into your network but you should only need to do it once per device
WPA2 is the best security for more home routers these days and is now supported by the Official Xbox Adapter

Securing the Netgear DG834G

(If you don't have a Netgear, look here) Below are a set of step by step instructions on how to secure the Netgear DG834G router. The same methods can be applied to other Netgear routers but some menus may be slightly different.

Before proceeding, remember that applying security to your wireless network will affect ALL devices that connect wirelessly, not just your Xbox.

Therefore ensure that you know how to setup security on your other devices, and ensure they are capable of using wireless security. For example, some laptops/PC's may be able to use WEP but not WPA-PSK so use a form of encryption that all of your devices can use.

If you are only using the Xbox 360 adapter and your router supports WPA-PSK, use WPA-PSK instead of WEP.

Changing your SSID (network name) from its default setting

Open up your internet browser
Type in 192.168.0.1
Login with admin password (unless you have changed it)
Click on Wireless Settings
Click on the SSID field and change this to another name
Click on Apply
Your Xbox will no longer be able to connect using its old settings
On the Xbox Dashboard choose Settings/System/Network Settings/Wireless
Select Edit Settings, Select the Wireless mode setting
On the Select Wireless Network Page select your newly named wireless network
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage

Applying Encryption

At this stage you need to choose whether to use WEP or WPA-PSK, WPA-PSK is the better form of encryption, check to see if your other devices support it before using it

Instructions for WPA-PSK/WPA2

Select the WPA-PSK radio button
The WPA-PSK page will display a WPA-PSK Security Encryption section
Enter a value into the Passphrase field, a mix of letters and numbers is good, don't use a word in the dictionary
Click apply
Your Xbox will no longer be able to connect using its old settings
On the Xbox Dashboard choose Settings/System/Network Settings/Wireless
Select Edit Settings
Select the Wireless mode setting
On the Select Wireless Network Page select your wireless network, enter the Passphrase chosen above
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage

Instructions for WEP

On the router Wireless Settings section
Select the WEP radio button
Go to the WEP Security Encryption portion of the page
Choose automatic authentication type
Choose 128bit
Enter a value into the Passphrase field, this can be any mix of characters and numbers, make it something unique
Click Generate
Note down the numbers and letters in Key 1, it is case sensitive
Click apply
Your Xbox will no longer be able to connect using its old settings
On the Xbox Dashboard choose Settings/System/Network Settings/Wireless
Select Edit Settings, Select the Wireless mode setting
On the Select Wireless Network Page select your wireless network
You will be asked to enter the WEP Key your router generated
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage

Applying a Wireless Access List

On the router Wireless Settings menu, Wireless Station Access List section, click the Setup Access List button to display the list
If your xbox is already connected to Xbox live its MAC Address should be listed in the Available Wireless Station section. Simply click "Add" to add the Xbox to the list. (You could also find your Xbox 360 MAC Address by going nto the System Blade/Network Settings/Edit Settings/Additional Settings/Advanced Settings)
Do the same for any other devices on your network (laptop, PC etc)
Tick the Turn Access Control On box
Click Apply
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage

Prevent your SSID (Network name) from being broadcast

On the router click the Wireless Settings link in the Setup section of the main menu
Untick the Allow Broadcast of Name (SSID)
Click apply
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems

Thats it

Securing the BT HomeHub

These instructions are based on version 6.2.2.6 firmware. If you have an earlier version, I suggest waiting for the automatic update to take place.

Before proceeding, remember that applying security to your wireless network will affect ALL devices that connect wirelessly, not just your Xbox.

Therefore ensure that you know how to setup security on your other devices, and ensure they are capable of using wireless security. For example, some laptops/PC's may be able to use WEP but not WPA-PSK, use a form of encryption that all of your devices can use.

If you are only using the Xbox 360 adapter and your router supports WPA-PSK, use WPA-PSK or WPA2 instead of WEP.

Changing your SSID (network name) from its default setting

Open up your internet browser
Type in 192.168.1.254
Click on Advanced
Click on continue toadvanced
Click on Wireless
Click on Configure
In the Network Name(SSID) field, enter your new chosen Network Name
Your Xbox will no longer be able to connect using its old settings
On the Xbox Dashboard choose Settings/System/Network Settings
Select the Wireless mode setting
On the Select Wireless Network Page select your newly named wireless network
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage

Instructions for WPA-PSK/WPA2

Click on Wireless
Click on Security
Ensure the "Broadcast Network Name" is ticked
Choose "New stations are allowed (automatically)"
Select the "Use WPA-PSK Encryption" radio button
Choose your own WPA-PSK Encryption key a mix of letters and numbers is good, don't use a word in the dictionary
Choose WPA-PSK Version "WPA"
Click on Apply
Wait 10 seconds
On the Xbox Dashboard choose Settings/System/Network Settings
Select the Wireless mode setting
On the Select Wireless Network Page select your wireless network, enter the Passphrase chosen above
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage

Instructions for WEP

Click on Wireless
Click on Security
Ensure the "Broadcast Network Name" is ticked
Choose "New stations are allowed (automatically)"
Select the "Use WEP Encryption" radio button
Choose 64bit or 128bit WEP Key Length (128bit preferred)
Enter your own WEP Encryption Key, 64 bit - The key must consist of 10 hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F). 128 bit - The key must consist of 26 hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F)
Click on Apply
Wait 10 seconds
On the Xbox Dashboard choose Settings/System/Network Settings/Wireless
On the Select Wireless Network Page select your wireless network, enter the WEP Key chosen above
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage

Applying a Wireless Access List

Click on Wireless
Click on Security
Choose "New Stations Allowed (via registration)"
Click Apply
On the Xbox Dashboard choose Settings/System/Network Settings/Wireless
On the Select Wireless Network Page select your wireless network, enter the Passphrase chosen BUT DO NOT PRESS ENTER
On the Homehub Wireless Security screen, Click on the "Search for new wireless devices" link at the bottom of the screen. This will force the hub into registration mode.
Go back to the Xbox (quickly) and press enter to join the network
Ensure you can connect to Xbox live without any problems before proceeding to the next stage