Router Config Question?

[LilSnoop40]

Hello, my wife's parents have the Linksys E2500 router and just purchased the Nighthawk 1900.  can i save the configuration settings from the E2500 and import into the new router or won't this work?

 

Thanks

[+BudMan MVC]

so you want to import config settings from a linksys to a netgear?  Yeah no that is not going to work.

 

So this is your inlaws wifi router.. I would be amazed if its just not default out of the box.  If their is actually a PSK set I would be happy surprised - let me guess the SSID is linksys   Did they even change the default password to access the gui?

 

Since your asking the question, I have to to assume neither of them work in IT, etc.  So yeah prob default out of the box!!  What sort of settings did you think you need to move over to the new one?  If they don't want to change the wifi password on their devices if there is one even.  Then sure set the ssid and psk to the same on your new nighthawk..  But its prob a good idea to make sure what is being done is secure.  I would suggest a unique SSID, so its different than all the other ones in the area for starters.  Make sure your set for wpa2 aes only.. There is zero use to tkip on wpa2, etc.  And then make a good PSK.. Something strong.. 20 characters should be good!! 

[LilSnoop40]

thanks for the info, early am here and i didn't even realize they were 2 different companies... thanks for the info and sorry for wasting your time.

 

have a good weekend!

[SenatorRobb]

I wouldn't say you wasted anyone's time, BudMan covered a lot, but, and it's your or your inlaws choice, but I always set ssid to something I don't plan to use, then the psk, then I set it to hidden and choice the real SSID I plan to use, that way nobody ever knows, aside from me, what the real SSID is. But I also live in an apartment building and that is different soo like I said your choice.

Like I'd choose Linky, set PSK, hide the SSID "Linky" and set it then to something so nobody else knows, or at least nobody who shouldn't.

[xendrome]

  On 27/11/2016 at 15:03, SenatorRobb said:

Like I'd choose Linky, set PSK, hide the SSID "Linky" and set it then to something so nobody else knows, or at least nobody who shouldn't.

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That doesn't make any sense, just tell it not to broadcast the SSID from the get go.

[DaveLegg Developer]

Hiding the SSID doesn't actually do anything to make your network more secure, it only makes it harder for you to add your own devices to the network. Anyone who wanted to see what your network was called could do so easily. There is no point in turning off the broadcasting of the SSID. EVER.

[SenatorRobb]

  On 27/11/2016 at 15:52, DaveLegg said:

Hiding the SSID doesn't actually do anything to make your network more secure, it only makes it harder for you to add your own devices to the network. Anyone who wanted to see what your network was called could do so easily. There is no point in turning off the broadcasting of the SSID. EVER.

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Not everyone knows how to do that, and all that's required is for you to remember the name of your SSID, its not that complicated. So yes, some will still see your network if they have the knowledge too, not all do so it weeds out some.

  On 27/11/2016 at 15:50, xendrome said:

That doesn't make any sense, just tell it not to broadcast the SSID from the get go.

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Anyone can choose what they want or feel is good for them, just a thought was all. And mine by default broadcasts itself from the get go, so I have to go through those stupid steps anyways. I wish it didn't but if wishes were hornets we'd all be dead.

[+BudMan MVC]

^ exactly!!! It actually goes against the RFC's they are still broadcasting, their are just broadcasting blank.. Now your client has to ask for it, and it will ask every wifi network it comes in contact with hey I know about this network called "something" and I want to join it, is that you.. Hey I know I just asked you 30 seconds ago.. but do you have a "something" network, etc. etc..

 

Not broadcasting your SSID is to be honest one of the most moronic things ever!!  It's FUD just like your machines need to be in the same "workgroup" for file sharing that just will not die no matter how much fire gets put to it..

 

Now while it might keep it off grandma's wifi listing on your phone.. It sure an the hell is not going to stop anyone thinking of hacking you or seeing that there is a wifi network in the area, etc.

 

It just makes it harder for you - that is ALL!!  And makes you look like a moron to anyone that actually knows anything about wifi - sorry!!  So you might impress nontechy friends with your elite hacking skills.. But the 8 year old down the street is prob laughing what a moron to all his friends..

 

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not all do so it weeds out some.

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What is grandma going to do if she sees your ssid on your phone - hack you??

[DaveLegg Developer]

  On 27/11/2016 at 16:04, SenatorRobb said:

So yes, some will still see your network if they have the knowledge too, not all do so it weeds out some.

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If someone has the knowledge/skill to break into a wifi network, they have the knowledge to see 'hidden' networks, it's so trivial it's pointless. I really don't understand why manufacturers still offer it as a setting

[SenatorRobb]

  On 27/11/2016 at 16:30, DaveLegg said:

If someone has the knowledge/skill to break into a wifi network, they have the knowledge to see 'hidden' networks, it's so trivial it's pointless. I really don't understand why manufacturers still offer it as a setting

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You're right, but I figure I'll at least try to filter out some people who try to know about my network, it wont filter out all like you said, but it will filter out those who don't have the skill which is better than none. Plus, technically the lease forbids, wireless netowrking, but everyone does it and no body raises issues with it. It's just they don't really want analog wireless network to interfer with local first responders/government/walkie talkies on the premises. Corporate don't know and the office don't care.

[+BudMan MVC]

Because they cater to the typical idiot users that make up the masses. These users don't have clue one, and the friends they ask give them info like hide your ssid..  So the cycle of FUD continues!!

 

So they think if they put a NULL in their beacon they are secure...  Yeah its like taking the house numbers off your house so people won't be able to rob you.. All you do is make it harder for the substitute mailman to deliver your mail when your normal guy is on vac or sick, or your friends to come over for a party that have not been there before.  It has ZERO security aspect to it, if anything just the false sense of security it might give the user is prob the worst thing about it..  Oh I hide my ssid, and use mac filtering nobody will be able to get into my network..  My psk is real secure too P@55w0rd!

 

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Plus, technically the lease forbids, wireless netowrking,

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What?? 

 

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they don't really want analog wireless network to interfer with local first responders/government/walkie talkies on the premises.

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So what idiots wrote this lease???  Clearly they don't have a clue to what how anything works at all... What country are you in??  You have to love the idiot logic of your typical user - lets say that some off the wall merit to this claim that it could interfere with 1st responders..   So what do people do, just try to hide the fact that they are doing it, corp just plays freaking stupid - do they really think their tenants are not running wifi??  what about hotspots off their phones - is that ok, it uses wifi too..  Lets hope they don't die because the medic's couldn't talk to doctor when someone is having a heart attack   because someone was using their tablet to watch p0rn on their wifi   Does the lease forbid you from using wireless phones, or microwaves?

 

Is ###### like this that just makes you wonder how truly stupid the vast majority of the human race is.. Its like the movie Idiocracy is not that far off

 

So users actually sign this thing?  Oh let me guess 90% of them didn't even read it   Why would someone not say hey this is BS, take it out or will find place to live where the owners are not complete idiots

[adrynalyne]

  On 27/11/2016 at 16:34, SenatorRobb said:

You're right, but I figure I'll at least try to filter out some people who try to know about my network, it wont filter out all like you said, but it will filter out those who don't have the skill which is better than none. Plus, technically the lease forbids, wireless netowrking, but everyone does it and no body raises issues with it. It's just they don't really want analog wireless network to interfer with local first responders/government/walkie talkies on the premises. Corporate don't know and the office don't care.

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The people who need to see your ssid were never a security concern to begin with. Anyone who wants and could get in without your blessing will find your "hidden" network. Clearly it's a non-issue for their devices because Hindi g it won't stop interference. Just broadcast it. They can't prove it comes from you. If they could, they would know about the hidden ones too. 

[sc302 Veteran]

  On 27/11/2016 at 16:04, SenatorRobb said:

Not everyone knows how to do that, and all that's required is for you to remember the name of your SSID, its not that complicated. So yes, some will still see your network if they have the knowledge too, not all do so it weeds out some.

Anyone can choose what they want or feel is good for them, just a thought was all. And mine by default broadcasts itself from the get go, so I have to go through those stupid steps anyways. I wish it didn't but if wishes were hornets we'd all be dead.

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Understand that the only ones it weeds out are those not scanning for networks, i.e. Normal users. If someone is scanning or trying to hack in, they have the tools to get the ssid. So really, hiding a ssid does nothing to protect you other than from granny attempting to connect to your network and failing to authenticate because she chose the wrong one. That is who you are stopping, even still many operating systems are starting to show them anyway, even if they can't show the ssid stating "hidden network"....as a person in security I see this as challenge accepted.  If you have a weak pass I am in. I am not the only one. 

 

I probably cant change your mind about what makes you feel good, but understand it is as simple as looking under the front door mat for your front door key.