How to connect two computers to a broadband modem [ How to connect two computers to one broadband modem ]

How to connect two computers to a broadband modem [ How to connect two computers to one broadband modem ]

If you have a broadband modem or one that is supplied from your internet service provider (ISP) you can most probably connect two computers to it without needing a router. If you look at the picture of my modem below, it has a USB (blue) and a ETHERNET (yellow) port. Of course there are many other ways to connect two computers together to share files or an internet connection, however this article is about connecting two computers to one modem.

My service provider, Telstra Australia, supplied this modem to me. It came with an installation disc, which you should use to connect to the modem through the USB.

Now if you do not have a router, but have a similar modem to the one shown, you can connect two computers off the one broadband modem and thus both accessing the internet.

One computer can connect through the USB port and the other through the Ethernet.

A USB cable and and Ethernet cable come with the modem, however to connect the second computer you may need to buy a longer Ethernet cable. Get a blue cable.. NOT yellow or red. The blue one is a CROSSOVER cable, the others will be PATCH cables. They have the same connections on them but do entirely different jobs. (this colour coding applies in Australia, I don’t know about other countries.)

How to connect two computers to one broadband modem?

In this tutorial I will show you how to connect two computers to the same broadband modem.

What do you need to connect two computers?

1. You will need two computers to connect to one modem.
2. You will need an ethernet cable and a USB cable.
3. You will need a modem similar to the one pictured above.
4. You will need an internet connection.
5. You will need an installation CD to install through USB connection.

To connect a computer to a broadband modem through USB, it is recommended that you use the installation cd. It will ask you to choose how you want to connect and you select USB. Make sure you know your user name and password for your internet service provider.

To connect the second computer to the same modem but through the Ethernet, just plug it in…It usually works straight away. If it does not, use the installation cd, but choose to connect with Ethernet.

Ten Expert Tested Tips to Secure Your Home Wireless Network

Ten Expert Tested Tips to Secure Your Home Wireless Network

The given below tested tips will assist you in improving the safety of your home Wi-Fi network. The more precise details concerning how to really implement the given steps will depend upon the sort of your wireless router but yes,these aren’t difficult ones and can be simply found in your wireless router manual. Here are the tips:

1. Change Wireless Network Devices Default Usernames and Passwords : An Access Point Or, A Router, a core device in a wireless home network has factory default usernames and passwords which are straightforward and known to hackers. Hence change their login usernames and passwords that are used to configure and store the settings and so on. Keep complicated usernames and passwords and keep their records private.
2. Turn On Encryption That’s Compatible : All Wi-Fi devices support some kind of encryption. Encryption technology scrambles messages sent over wireless networks in order that they can’t be simply read by humans. Use the most powerful encryption available for your Wi-Fi network, i.e., WEP, WPA, WPA2, and so on.
3. Change the Default SSID : Access points and routers all utilise a network name called the SSID – Service Set Identifier which is set same by  the wireless device makers.
4. While SSID does not permit the hackers to make an entry into your home wireless net nevertheless it gives them a fair clue that you’re not serious about the safety of your home Wi-Fi network. Hackers interest after seeing the default factory SSID set by the maker still there on your home wireless network, make your network a likely less complicated target for getting attacked. Hence you must change the default SSID when configuring your wireless network.
5. Disable SSID Broadcast : In Wi-Fi networking, the wireless access point or router usually broadcasts or sends the network name (SSID ) over the air at frequent intervals by default. This feature is unnecessary, and it increases the possibility that somebody will try and sign in to your home Wi-Fi network. Hence disable SSID broadcast.
6. Never Auto-Connect to Open Wi-Fi Networks : Connecting to an open Wi-Fi network like a free wireless hotspot or your neighbor’s wireless router exposes your PC to security hazards. Though not routinely enabled, most PC’s have a setting available that permit these wireless connections to occur immediately without notifying you. This setting should be disabled except when required in some of the temporary circumstances. 
7. Enable MAC Address Filtering : MAC stands for Media Access Control, a unique identifier allotted to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. Every piece of Wi-Fi gear has a physical address or MAC address that is unique to it. Access points and routers keep an eye on the MAC addresses of all devices that connect to them. You must physically configure your Wi-Fi network to only permit devices on your network by manually entering their MAC addresses.
8. Manually Assign Static (Non Dynamic) IP (Internet Protocol) Addresses to Wireless Devices : Most home wireless net users have a tendency to use dynamic IP addresses as there is not lots of the work involved; they’re allotted IP’s instantly without any intervention. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) technology is unquestionably simple to set up. However this convenience is indeed an advantage to network attackers, who can simply know correct and working IP addresses from your network’s DHCP pool (range of IP’s). Therefore turn off DHCP on the router or access point and set a fixed IP range as an alternative and then configure each connected device to match the given IP pool.
9. Enable Firewall On Each PC and the Router Too : Modern network routers contain in-built firewall capacity and the choice to disable them is also present. Make sure your router’s firewall is set to ON. For additional amount of security on your home Wi-Fi network, install and enable private firewall software on each PC hooked up to the router. Make certain to go thru the Firewall settings to be sure that only the required programs have outgoing access. Be wary and keep a watch on the Firewall logs too.
10. Position the Router or Access Point At the Middle of Your Home to Extend Safety : Wi-Fi signals usually reach outside a home. A bit of wireless signal seepage outside is not an issue, but the larger this wireless signal reaches, the easier it is for others to recognize it and attack your home wireless net. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) signals sometimes go to the bordering homes and into streets. Hence when you’re installing your wireless home network or getting it installed, keep this under consideration that the position of the access point or router defines its reach. They should not be at periphery of your home. Make certain to position these wireless network devices near the centre of the home instead of near windows to reduce the signal seepage.
11. Switch Off the Home Wireless Network During Extended Times of Non-Use : The top safety measure, generally ignored, in wireless security features, is to close your Wi-Fi network when it’s not used for a considerable time (night time when you’re asleep). This wireless network safety tip will definitely stop outside hackers from breaking in to your home wireless network. While it isn’t practical and possible to switch OFF and ON all the wireless devices often, at least turn them off during travel or extended periods when the Wi-Fi network is offline. Wear and tear is not a concern for wireless devices as they’re pure electronics devices, so switching them ON and OFF multiple times is not a problem and is not going to result in any breakdown. I’m sure that these ten tips will definitely help you in making your home wireless network security extremely stronger. 

How to Fix wireless network connection problems in Windows Vista

How to Fix wireless network connection problems in Windows Vista

Wireless networking makes life a lot easier — at least, that’s the theory. But connecting to a wireless network can be troublesome, though the solution is often fairly simple. By following these six steps you will be able to identify and solve the most common problems quickly and easily.

One thing to make sure of before starting is that wireless networking is switched on. On some computers youmay need to press a button or flick a switch before the PC can connect — it varies from PC to PC, but look for something marked Wireless, Wifi, 802.11 or with an antenna or radio waves (on Dell computers, hold down Fn and press F2). If you’re still having connection problems after all your equipment has been checked, then follow our advice to fix the problem.

Step 1

The first port of call when checking for wireless network problems is the wireless network icon in the Notification Area, the small collection of icons at the bottom-right of the screen. The icon is a picture of two computer monitors, and if you have a working connection (or if the computer thinks you do) it will be partly covered by a blue-green globe. Hover your mouse over the icon (move the pointer over it but don’t click anything) and a small box will appear showing the strength of the wireless signal and what kind of access is available. If you can’t see the globe, or if you can but there’s still no network connection, the next step is to right-click the icon and select ‘Diagnose and repair’.

Step 2

Once you’ve clicked ‘Diagnose and repair’ the computer will go through a process of figuring out what kind of connection you’re trying to make and attempt to reconnect to it. If the problem is temporary, you might find that it fixes itself at this point. Otherwise a window will appear with further options. Depending on the problem, you may be offered the option of trying to connect again or changing the wireless security key (see Step 3). If there’s no response from the network, you could try connecting with a network cable and logging into the router’s control panel to diagnose the fault. To do so, open a web browser and type the router’s address. It will usually be 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, but details for this and the router’s administrator password will be in its manual.

Step 3

Home networks should have some security set up (on the router or access point). A good option is WPA or WPA2 encryption (either or both will appear in the router’s setup page). WEP security is more widely used but is less secure. You will be prompted to enter a ‘key’, which can be any phrase of text. Remember this, as Vista will prompt you to enter it when you want to connect to the network. If you’re using a paid-for public hotspot there may be no security, but you will need to log on to the network. Once connected, open a web browser and you will be directed to a page where you can pay or log in, if you have an account.

Step 4

If you can’t find the right name in the list of available wireless networks, it may be that the one to which you’re trying to connect has been hidden to prevent unauthorised access. To get to it, select Unnamed Network from the list and click Connect. You will be prompted to type the name of the network — get this fromthe owner of the network. Windows will then try to connect — if you need a passphrase or security key to access it, you’ll be prompted for that. Type it in and click Connect. A common problem here is mistyping of keys — tick the ‘Display characters’ box to be able to see what you’re typing, or copy and paste it from an email or text document.

Step 5

If Windows can’t find any networks and your wireless facility is switched on (see introduction), check that the hardware is working. Click Start, then Control Panel, then Network and Sharing Center, then Manage Wireless Connections. Rightclick the wireless connection and select Enable. If that doesn’t work, click Start and type device, then click Device Manager when it appears above. In Device Manager, double-click Network Adapters to expand it, and look for your wireless network adapter. If it’s not there, make sure it’s physically connected. Check the fitting; if it’s a USB device try it in another port. A yellow exclamation mark in Device Managermeans it is not working — try installing the latest drivers from the maker’s website. A red X means it has been disabled — right-click it and select Enable.

Step 6

Wireless networks can work over a number of ‘channels’. You can set the channel when you set up the network (on your router or wireless access point). If you live in a city with lots of wireless networks around you, choose a channel few others are using to minimise interference. Log in to your router (instructions vary between manufacturers) and choose another channel for the wireless connection (you’ll need to reconnect any computers connected to it) and see if performance improves. The placement of the wireless router is also important. If it has ‘line of sight’ to the computer you’ll get a better signal; if not, try to place it so there are fewer obstacles in the way.

Wireless LAN Hacking

Wireless LAN Hacking

Different wireless technologies define a rapidly emerging area of growth in networking. The need for mobile computing, wireless peripherals, voice and messaging, hand-held and other internet-enabled devices, easy home networking, media streaming, and cost-effective networking solutions in general have driven the recent development of a number of wireless networking standards.

All those wireless technologies target different niches in the WLAN market, work over different frequencies, and only a few are compatible with each other.

Basic

IEEE Standard	Speed (max)	Frequency	Transmission Method	Security	Details
802.11legacy	2 Mbps	2.4 GHz	DSSS, FHSS	WEP, WPA	IEEE specification extended into 802.11b
802.11a	54 Mbps	5.0 GHz	OFDM	WEP, WPA	Wi-Fi Alliance standard, 12 non-overlapping channels (each 20 MHz wide). Less potential for RF interference at 5 GHz than 2.4 GHz. Shorter range than, and not interoperable with802.11b/g. Average actual throughput 10-25 Mbps.
802.11b (Wi-Fi)	11 Mbps	2.4 GHz	DSSS, HR-DSSS	WEP, WPA	Wi-Fi Alliance standard. 11 channels (each 22 MHz wide, only 3 non-overlapping, 14 usable channels outside the U.S.). Average actual throughput 5 Mbps.
802.11g	54 Mbps	2.4 GHz	DSSS, HR-DSSS,OFDM	WEP, WPA	Wi-Fi Alliance standard, 11 channels (each 22 MHz wide, only 3 non-overlapping, 14 usable channels outside the U.S.). Compatible with 802.11b, with improved speed and security. Will eventually replace 802.11b. Uses additional OFDM modulation technique above 20Mbps. Average actual throughput 10-25 Mbps.
802.11n	200+ Mbps	2.4/5 GHz	MIMO	WPA2 ???	Emerging Wi-Fi Alliance standard (scheduled to be complete by the end of 2006), backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g. It is to achieve that by adding MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output), using multiple antennas.  Average throughput of 100+ Mbps.
Bluetooth	2 Mbps	2.45 GHz	FHSS	PPTP, VPN or SSL	No native TCP/IP support. Best suited to connect PDAs, cell phones and peripheral devices at short distances.
HomeRF	10 MBps	2.4 GHz	FHSS	56-bitencryption, separate IPs for each network.	No longer supported. 150 feet range, intended for home use. Reserves part of availablebandwidth for voice services. Responds well to interference because of FHSS.
HiperLAN/1	20 MBps	5 GHz	CSMA/CA	individual authentication and per-sesisonencryption keys	Only used in Europe. Ad-hoc WLAN, requires no configuration or central controller.
HiperLAN/2	54 MBps	5 GHz	OFDM	individual authentication and per-sessionencryption keys	Only used in Europe.It can carry ATM cells, IP packets, Firewire packets, as well as digital voice (cellular phones).

Set Windows 7 as WiFi HotSpot [Quick Tip]

Set Windows 7 as WiFi HotSpot [Quick Tip]

Windows 7 comes with a new feature for sharing your computers internet connection. Now, you can do it wireless. Well, As long as your system’s wireless network adapter supports Windows 7 “virtual wi-fi” feature, you can do it.

Next you need to check if your network card has the latest driver to support the feature. Intel, Broadcom, Realtek and some other NIC makers provide such drivers.

If the above conditions are met, you are good to read on …

The Commands – Step

• Feel free to put the following commands into a .bat-file for simpler and faster usage.
• Open an elevated command prompt (Type “CMD.EXE” in the start menu search bar, then right click the cmd.exe link and select “Run as Administrator”).
• In the command window, type: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyNet key=MyPassword keyUsage=persistent
• Replace “MyNet” with the name you want to use for the wireless network and replace “MyPassword” with your chosen password for accessing it)
• Press Enter.
• Now type: netsh wlan start hostednetwork
• Press Enter.

Step 2 – You need only do this once (usually):

• Open Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center.
• Click Change Adapter Settings.
• Right click your Internet connection and select Properties.
• Click the Sharing tab.
• Check the box that says “Allow other network users to connect.”
• Choose your virtual Wi-Fi adapter and click OK.

Now Wi-Fi enabled computers within range should see your new wireless network and others can connect to it if they know the password.

How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

How to Make Your Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) Hacker-Proof

Security has become second nature to people over the years, whether it be your home, car, or personal belongings. Our computers are no exception to this, as digital thieves are lurking everywhere, and can be almost impossible to detect by the average computer user. Preventing unauthorized access to your wireless home or business network (Wi-Fi) is an extremely important measure to take, as a hacker doesn't need to know you personally to target you, and they can be in a house or apartment nearby, or even parked in a car on the street. Wi-Fi hackers have been known to drive around neighborhoods searching for wireless networks in people's homes, gain access through various unlocked doors in a wireless router's configuration, and then have a field day with your information. In this article, we will go step by step through the different configurations of your wireless router that leave your network vulnerable, and what to change to make your network virtually hacker proof.

Step 

1. The first thing that we have to do is login to our router's configuration utility. To do so, you must first figure out what your gateway's IP address is. You can do this by going to Start > Run and typing in CMD. This will open a session of command prompt. In command prompt, type 'ipconfig' without the quotations, and press enter. If done while connected to your network, this will return several different numbers. The one we need is listed as "Default Gateway". Take the IP address listed as "Default Gateway" and write it down, or copy it. If you're not familiar with IP addresses, it is a series of numbers separated by periods like this: 192.168.1.1 In fact, this particular IP address I just used as an example is the most common gateway, but yours may be listed as something different. Now, with this IP address copied, open a web browser such as internet explorer or Firefox, and paste or type the IP address exactly as it shows into the address bar and press enter. This will bring up the login page for your router. If you know your login details enter them here, if not, you will have to find the manufacturer's User ID and password for your router. You can find this in the manual that came with the router, or by going to the manufacturer's website and searching for the manual under the router's model number (this can be found on a sticker on the back, side, or bottom of the router.) You can first try common ones like "admin" for the User ID, and "password" for the password, or "admin" for both User ID and password. If these don't work, refer to the manufacturer's manual for the User ID and password. If you set up your own User ID and password and forgot them, or the manufacturer's default User ID and password are not working, if other people in your home have access to the router or it had a previous owner, the default User ID and password may have been changed. In such a case you can reset them back to the defaults by pressing and holding the reset button on the back of the router for at least 5 seconds. Now you can login using the default User ID and password set by the manufacturer.
2. Change your User ID and password if they are set to the manufacturer's defaults. If someone gains access to your wireless network, they can easily log into your router's settings and change them to their liking.
3. Change your SSID. Your SSID is the name that you see for your wireless network when you search for open networks using a Wi-Fi enabled device. If the SSID is set to the manufacturer's default, anyone searching for an open network nearby can see yours, and with a little searching on the internet they can figure out the model number of your router which will help them gain access to your router's settings.
4. Disable broadcasting of your SSID. Broadcasting of an SSID is simply how when you search for open networks in an area, the names of open networks will show on your device. If you disable broadcasting of your SSID, when people search for open networks, yours will not even show up, so essentially, they will not know your wireless network even exists. You will still be able to connect to your network by typing your SSID into your Wi-Fi enabled devices manually.
5. If available, enable WPA2 encryption. If WPA2 is not available, enable WPA encryption. If neither is available and only WEP is available, search your router's manual or website for information on updating your router's firmware. An update for your router may include support for WPA or WPA2 encryption. If no update is available to your current router, you may consider buying a new router as yours is likely very outdated. WPA2 encryption is ideal as it is much more secure than WPA and especially WEP.
6. Setup a Pre-Shared Key or PSK or Network Key. Whatever your router calls it, this is the "password" to your network. This is not to be confused with the password that we changed in step 2 for your router. Your Pre-Shared Key that you setup should be impossible to guess, and should include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. It is very important to include all of these to make it almost impossible to crack, but don't make it so long that it takes you 5 minutes to enter it into every device. If it is difficult to remember, you can always look it up whenever you need by logging into your router's settings again.
7. Enable MAC Address Filtering or MAC Address Authentication. This step is optional, and should only be performed if you do not have visitors that use your Wi-Fi, or if the devices that use your Wi-Fi are consistently the same devices. A MAC Address is basically an ID that every internet or network enabled device has that looks something like this: 00:20:e0:00:41:00. Every device ever created has a unique MAC address so that they can be properly identified on a network as an individual. Using MAC Address Filtering or Authentication only allows the specific devices that you select to connect to your wireless network. Any outside devices will not be able to connect because their MAC Address will not be in the list you create of allowable devices. To add your Wi-Fi enabled devices to access list, you first need to obtain the MAC Address of each device. For computers and laptops, you can simply go to Start > Run and type 'CMD' without quotation marks. This will bring up a Command Prompt window. Then type in 'ipconfig /all' without quotation marks, and press enter. Something saying "Physical Address" should be listed somewhere near the top. Next to it you will see your computer's MAC Address. It may be listed with hyphens in between every 2 characters instead of colons like in the example above. This is okay, just make sure when you enter the MAC Address into the access list that you do it in the format required by your router, so you may need to change all hyphens into colons. Do this for all computers connecting your wireless network. For devices such as IPods, IPads, cell phones, etc., you will have to search for your device information most likely in the Setup menu (or it may be somewhere else depending on the device). Here, if it is a Wi-Fi enabled device, you will find the MAC Address. Do this for all non-computer devices that connect to your wireless network and add them each to your access list. Don't forget, every time you purchase a new device or someone visits and wants to use your Wi-Fi, you will have to perform this step.

It is important to perform all steps to properly secure your wireless network, except for the optional step #7. There are other security measures that can be implemented, however the above steps are the most important, and most necessary to prevent unauthorized access to your wireless network. If you completed all of the steps listed in this tutorial, you can feel confident that your wireless network is now virtually impenetrable.

The Importance of DNS and IP Address

The Importance of DNS and IP Address

Now day's innumerous websites are being used on the web and daily people creating various websites. To find out the site of interest of a particular field or person people use the domain name system and internet protocol address to access their site of interest. The DNS and the IP address play an important role here to get people to the desired website. The DNS is used to translate the domain name into an IP address that helps the user to visit the desired website. In the absence of the domain name system it takes a long time to visit any website.

At the present scenario people should be aware of these two things and it does not matter whether they are a computer geek or not. So let's talk about some basic things of DNS. A domain name system is used to retain the domain name hierarchy. The DNS manages to translate the service between it and the address spaces. The organizations that offer managed IT services also have hosting services for managed servers.

There is a particular web server that does the task of maintaining the domain names and addresses. It is a computer system assigned and set in such a way that it directs the user into the specified direction. The second thing is the internet protocol address. It is meant to use for labeling all the devices present in the network. Here the network device can be a computer system, scanner, printer etc. that is comprised in the network. The DNS acts for the name of the searched item and the user gets it from the IP which is the address for that and lets us grab it. With the increasing advancement in the technology the internet is continuously expanding itself at a fast rate. Sometimes it is very difficult to navigate through it. It is very necessary that the website has a low loading time otherwise the user may change for another site.

The secondary domain name service can also be used that behaves like a backup and it does not let your domain name down. If you are taking the web hosting services then the provider should also have a good IT support system to provide quick assistance if there is any issue in the loading process of your site. Having an efficient IT support team, the control and accessibility of the network automatically get nourished. The benefits a user gets from the service provider are enhanced security, flexibility and the most important thing is that your process is running by a skilled backend team.