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Improving Security
Linksys E-Series
How to control access to your wireless
network
Why would I need to control access to my wireless network? If you used
Cisco Connect to configure your router, your wireless network is already secure.
By default, Cisco Connect enables industry-standard WPA (Wi-Fi Protected
Access) security using WPA2/WPA mixed mode. Cisco Connect configures your
network with a complex, 10-character password that is almost impossible
to compromise. If you set up your wireless network manually and have not
enabled wireless security, your wireless network will be an “open” network that
almost anyone nearby with a Wi-Fi-enabled device could access.
What is MAC filtering? The best way to secure your wireless network is to use
Cisco Connect to automatically configure and secure it. However, if you choose
not to use the built-in security features of your router, you can still control
access to your wireless network using MAC filtering.
Every network device has a unique, 12-digit MAC (Media Access Control)
address. Using MAC filtering, you can allow only known MAC addresses onto
your network. You can also exclude specific MAC addresses or deny them
access to your wireless network.
Example: Because each MAC filtering configuration is unique, the following
procedure uses the simplified example of setting up MAC filtering to allow one
wireless device access to the network.
To set up MAC filtering to allow one wireless device access to your
network:
Wireless > Wireless MAC Filter
1.
Log into the browser-based utility (see “How to open the browser-based
utility” on page 21).
2.
Click the Wireless tab, then click the Wireless MAC Filter page.
3.
Click Enabled.
4.
Select Permit.
TIP
You can also use MAC filtering to prevent specific PCs from
accessing your network by selecting Prevent. However, it’s easier
to permit only known devices than to exclude unknown devices.
5.
Click Wireless Client List. A separate window opens and displays the
currently connected devices. In the example below, the only device
permitted onto the network is the MacBook. However, two other devices
are also connected to the network.
6.
Next to the device entry, select Save to MAC Address Filter List, then
click Add. The Mac Address Filter List is updated with the MAC address of
the device you added.