Finding a WIFI key
This is something pretty much all of us have a problem with at some time or other, usually its when we encounter computer problems, get a new computer or someone else wishes to connect their computer and browse via our internet connection.
But how many of us know what our wireless key is?
There are a number ways of finding a WIFI key
The easiest way of finding the code is to simply look on the router, many routers today come preconfigured and may have the key written on the back or bottom of the router itself.
Did you initially receive an email from your ISP when you subscribed to your ISP? Again if the router came preconfigured then it may be in an email.
If you have a computer connected to the WIFI router finding the WIFI key is pretty straight forward.
Go to the Command prompt – type IPCONFIG and look for the Gateway Address, it will probably be similar to 192.168.2.1 – then enter this as an address into your Internet Browser.
You will then see your routers login screen and be asked for login credentials, this is where you will need to the users manual or you could try logging in as password – admin and username admin.
Once you have successfully logged into your router look for the Wireless section and then security – you will then be able to see your key, if its obscured with **** there should be a tick box that will enable you to see the actual characters.
Tips
While you in the wireless section it can be a good idea to make sure your wireless network is using WPA security. Many still use WEP this can be hacked in seconds as opposed to WPA which is much harder to crack.
Also changing to WPA will allow you to choose a word as the pass code, so just ensure its something easy to remember, but very hard to guess such using the same idea as this Comput3rAdvis3r – substituting letters for numbers and adding at least one capital letter.
If you logged into your router using standard user credentials now is also a good time to change them, or if any one with dark motives ever manages to connect to your WIFI network they could easily login through the routers admin interface and in effect prevent you from accessing your own WIFI network
On a final note keep a record of your WIFI key somewhere safe
computer adviser finding wep key article