How to Change WEP Keys on Linksys

by Nicole Martinez
With a wireless Linksys router, you can connect computers in your home or business.

With a wireless Linksys router, you can connect computers in your home or business.

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Because wireless routers, such as those by Linksys, broadcast signals through the air, anyone within range can connect to your network if it is unsecured. These unauthorized users will then have access to your Internet connection as well as any shared files on the network. Linksys wireless routers support data encryption through protocols such as wired equivalent privacy, and you can specify a WEP key that users must enter in order to connect.

Step 1

Launch your browser and type in the IP address to access your Linksys Web-based control panel. It's most likely this URL, http://192.168.1.1. Type in your username and password, when prompted.

Step 2

Click "Wireless" in the control pane and select the sub-tab for "Wireless Security."

Step 3

Select "WEP" from the drop down menu of wireless security types.

Step 4

Choose "64 bits" and click "Generate" to change to a new WEP passkey for your wireless router.

Step 5

Click the "Save Changes" button to confirm the wireless security changes.

Warning

  • WEP protocol is not as secure as WPA or WPA2 protocols, which Linksys routers also support.

About the Author

Nicole Martinez began writing in 2010 and has since been published on various websites. She primarily writes about computer- and internet-related topics, especially those concerning website maintenance and programming.

Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images