Set Up A Wireless Network

Networking cover:Layout 1 7/9/09 14:22 Page 1
Set up a
wireless network
the practical guide to setting
up, configuring and securing
a wireless home network
✔ Step-by-step guides
✔ Essential tips & advice
✔ Set up a Wi-Fi router
✔ Connect to your network
✔ Secure your LAN
✔ Manage networks
✔ Boost signal strength
Dependable advice &

time-saving techniques
from the experts at
PC Utilities magazine GR001
Welcome page:PCE65 pp 8/9/09 14:11 Page 2
www.guidaroo.com
Editor
Ian Barker
Design
Advanced Design
Contributors
Gavin Burrell, Simon Clark, David Nield,
Iain Warde, Wayne Williams
Magnesium Media Ltd
Introduction
PO Box 498, Macclesfield
Cheshire, SK10 9BJ
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01625 855036

Website: www.guidaroo.com
Having a network at home is no longer the rarity that it once
was. ISPs routinely offer free wireless routers as part of
broadband deals and many households now have more than
one PC. Add in the capabilities of the latest versions of
Windows and it’s not hard to set up and connect to a network
either, so more and more people are taking the plunge.
A network can allow all of your PCs to share an Internet connection,
printer or external drive as well as exchanging files between systems. The
traditional way of creating a network was to run cables between each of the
machines. In the early days this would often be co-ax (the type of cable used The Set Up A Wireless Network Guidaroo is
for TV aerial leads) but is now more likely to be the slimmer and more published under licence by Magnesium
flexible twisted pair cable, similar to telephone wires. At its simplest a Media Ltd. All material © Magnesium Media
network involves connecting two PCs together with a cable. If you have Ltd. No material in whole or in part may be
more machines then you’ll need a hub or router from which all of the reproduced, stored or transmitted without
connections radiate. the prior written consent of Magnesium
Wired networks are still popular in offices where people have a fixed Media Ltd.
workstation and where security is an important factor. But in the home you
probably don’t want to spend your time running cables to all of the places Liability: Whilst every care has been taken in
where you may use a PC. This has led to the rise in popularity of wireless the writing, research and preparation of this
networking, or Wi-Fi, where a router sends a wireless signal around the product, the publisher cannot be held
building that can be picked up by any machine at any point. responsible for any errors or for the contents
of the websites mentioned. All copyrights
Ian Barker and trademarks are acknowledged.
ianb@magnesiummedia.com
Contents
Networking essentials
4 Introduction to networks
Learn the benefits of a wireless network and cut through all the jargon.
6 Set up a home Wi-Fi network

Find out what equipment you need and how to get
your home network up and running.
Networking and Windows

10 The Network And Sharing Center
Monitor and configure your home network with
the help of Vista’s built-in options.
12 Connect to a network in Vista

Find out how to connect your Windows Vista PC to your new network.
14 Network your home PCs in XP

Share your Internet connection between all your Windows XP PCs.
Advanced networking
18 Tech talk: The Internet
Learn about the infrastructure of the Internet and how it all works.
21 Tech talk: Internet firewalls

Find out how to keep your network fully protected with a firewall.
24 20 tips: Manage your Wi-Fi network

Get the most from your wireless network with our essential tips.
28 Upgrade your Wi-Fi network

Improve the range and transfer speeds of your wireless home network.
Introduction
to networks
Ian Barker T he traditional way of creating a network was
to run cables between each of the machines.
need a wireless adaptor for each of your PCs.
Laptop machines usually have these built in, but
explains what In the early days this would often be co-ax (the
type of cable used for TV aerial leads) but is now
on any machine adding wireless is as simple as
plugging in a USB adaptor.
networking is more likely to be the slimmer and more flexible
twisted pair cable similar to telephone wires. At
Using wireless scores high marks for
convenience but there are security
all about and its simplest a network involves connecting two considerations – which we’ll look at in more
PCs together with a cable. If you have more detail later in this guide. Also it can be hard to
the key points you need machines then you’ll need a hub or router from maintain signal strength, particularly in large
to bear in mind when which all of the connections radiate.
Internet service providers often provide a
buildings or older properties with solid internal
walls. You can use repeaters or high-gain
setting up a home LAN wireless router as part of their connection
package. Most have wired connections too, so
antennas to boost the range of a wireless LAN.
Alternatively you can get around these issues
you can use a mix of devices. This has meant with the third alternative which is powerline or
that having a wireless network is now a popular Home Plug networking. This uses special
option. It gives you the flexibility to use a PC in adaptors to transmit the network signal via
any room of the house or even surf the Web your mains wiring, ensuring that you can
from your laptop in the garden. Even if you connect any device on the same mains
didn’t get wireless kit as part of your Internet circuit without needing to run extra
package you can pick up a router for around £30 cables. Again there are cross over
and it isn’t hard to set up. You will of course devices that allow you to mix
powerline and wireless PCs in

the same network.
Setting up a powerline
network is likely to be more
Jargon buster
expensive than wireless.
However it offers the security ADSL Asymmetric Digital
benefits of a wired LAN and has Subscriber Line. The
consistent levels of signal broadband technology that
strength, making it a good splits a telephone line so that
choice for streaming media. frequencies not used by voice
calls are used to transmit and
Wireless security receive data at up to 8 Mbps.
Because a wireless router beams ADSL2 Enhanced version of ADSL
out its signal over a fairly wide allowing download speeds
range, it’s quite possible for your up to 12Mb/s.
neighbour or someone in the ADSL2+ The latest ADSL standard
street to attach to your network. capable of download speeds
Obviously you don’t want this to up to 24Mb/s.
happen as it allows someone else Ethernet The technology behind most
to steal your Internet band width modern networking,
and your data is vulnerable. developed by Xerox in the
Fortunately there are some simple mid-1970s.
steps you can take to make your HomePlug Produced by an alliance of
network secure. industry groups, this is the
The first and most important task most popular standard for
is to encrypt the wireless signal. Most powerline networking.
The latest routers like BT’s Home Hub have Mb/s Measure of information flow
routers now support WPA (Wi-Fi Protected
WPA encryption enabled by default in megabits (one million bits)
Access) and increasingly it’s activated by default.
Using encryption means that even if someone per second
does intercept your data it will be garbled, it also PSK Pre-Shared Key, the password
Useful Web links prevents access to your network without a used by WPA security to
establish an initial connection
Microsoft password in the form of a Pre-Shared Key (PSK).
networking http://tinyurl.com/2rdtg Many of the latest devices offer a push-button to the router.
system called WPS which automatically sets up a QoS Quality of Service, a feature
Linksys www.linksys.com that allows you to prioritise
secure connection.
Belkin www.belkin.com Once you’ve encrypted the signal there are a traffic based on port numbers
couple of further steps that it’s worth taking. The or addresses.
NETGEAR www.netgear.com TKIP Temporal Key Integrity
first is to change the router’s default admin
BT www.bt.com password so that there’s no risk of anyone Protocol, used by WPA
attaching to it and changing any of the settings. security to ensure each data
Solwise www.solwise.co.uk packet is sent with a unique
The second is to switch off the Service Set
Wired home www.wiredhomeguide.co.uk Identifier (SSID) broadcast, this effectively makes encryption key.
your wireless network invisible to anyone who WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy, the
Nuts about original Wi-Fi security
nets www.nutsaboutnets.com doesn’t know it’s there. We’ll look at how to do
all of this later in the guide. standard, now widely
Practically Much of the latest wireless kit offers WPS (Wi- regarded as inadequate
Networked www.practicallynetworked.com Fi Protected Setup) protection.
which allows you to Wireless b (802.11b) Older standard
Port Forward http://portforward.com/ allowing wireless data
create a secure
connection at the transfer at up to 11Mb/s.
push of a button. Wireless g (802.11g) Standard allowing
wireless data transfer at up to
54Mb/s.
Wireless n (802.11n) More recent
standard allowing data
transfer at up to 300Mb/s.
Currently still in draft form,
the final standard is expected
to permit up to 600Mb/s.
WPA Wi-Fi Protected Access,
security protocol created to
offer greater protection than
WEP.
WPA2 The latest development of
WPA using an Advanced
Encryption Standard (AES)
algorithm.
WPS Wi-Fi Protected Setup, a
standard for easy setup of a
Powerline networking secure wireless network
kit enables you to usually via push buttons on
transmit data via your each device.
home’s mains wiring
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WI-FI NETWORKING
Set up a home
wi-fi network
David Nield explains the hardware and software structure
you’ll need to have in place to create a home network
H ome networking has come on leaps and

bounds in the last couple of years. Whereas
the first broadband suppliers frowned on users
the future – a printer that can access all of your
home computers through the router, for
example, saves you having to swap it round
connecting up multiple machines to the Web, from machine to machine.
now most ISPs give you a wireless router for free
when you sign up. Modern day PCs, laptops and Networks and Windows
routers can find each other in seconds, which is Windows XP, released in 2001, was the first of
an impressive trick when you consider that the Microsoft’s operating systems to really simplify
first networks would need a degree in computing the networking process and make life easier for
to configure. Setting up a wi-fi network in your the non-technical user. This approach has been
HOW TO GUIDE home is inexpensive and straightforward, and will
give all of your computers and other devices
continued by Vista, which boasts a new-look
Network and Sharing Centre where you can
access to the Internet. manage all of your PC’s various connections. The
HARDWARE: As well as getting everyone online, you’ll also good news is that the default settings employed
Wireless router/adaptors be able to use a wi-fi network to share other by Windows and your hardware should suit the
LEVEL: resources. Windows enables you to set up majority of users; if you do need to make
Intermediate particular folders that can be shared, while many changes, you’ll find the interface intuitive and
printers and external hard drives are designed to straightforward to navigate around. If you have
ON THE WEB: be hooked up to a router rather than a single PC. Vista or XP running on the computers connected
http://computer.howstuffworks.com If you need networking functionality, look out up to your network then you shouldn’t have any
for this feature in any hardware that you buy in problem in getting each device to see the others.
Unpacking the D-Link Wireless N Starter Kit
D-Link’s Wireless N Starter Kit is ideal for creating a home network or Open up the package and you’ll find a router and a wireless USB
1 upgrading the hardware supplied by your ISP. It retails for around
£60 and you can read more at www.d-link.co.uk (check for
2 adaptor included, together with an instruction manual that should be
kept close at hand. There will also be a software CD included that will
compatibility with your existing hardware before buying any new help you set up and configure the router and adaptor to work with
devices). your various computers.
50 ISSUE 66 PC Explorer
WI-FI NETWORKING
Finding the right ISP

Choosing an Internet Service Provider can be want to use? It’s also important to check the
a daunting challenge, and there are many ISP’s reputation for customer service, as
different companies on the market to weigh you’ll be relying on this should something
up. If you live in the right location, you might go wrong – www.thinkbroadband.com
be able to get cable broadband from Virgin offers a comprehensive ratings and reviews
Media – use the postcode checker at guide to each of the suppliers, together with
www.virginmedia.com to see if your area the thoughts and opinions of existing
has access. The more common ADSL customers. If you don’t find your questions
(Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) covered on the forums, then you can start a
broadband is available almost everywhere. thread of your own.
First of all, you need to factor in the extras
included with your broadband supply. Both
Virgin and Sky offer all-in-one broadband,
A router sits at the centre of your wi-fi network,
telephone and TV packages – your choice of
controlling communication between each of your PCs
ISP might therefore depend as much on the
channels you want to watch as the
How does wi-fi work? broadband speeds you can get. As well as
The wireless technologies labelled as “wi-fi” the price and speed of each service, take into
(originally Wireless Fidelity) make use of radio consideration the other factors – will you
signals to transmit data from one location to have to pay for a router or installation? Are
another through the air. Wi-fi signals work at a there any restrictions on how much data you
higher frequency than mobile phones, can download? Is the broadband tied in with Visit the thinkbroadband.com website to access a
televisions and other devices to avoid any other online services that you might detailed set of ISP reviews and customer ratings
interference, but signal strength can be affected
by thick walls and other objects. Newer versions
of wi-fi – which is officially labelled 802.11 after
the series of protocols it uses – are overcoming both bits of kit are easy enough to upgrade, in the form of a USB dongle, a built-in chip, or
these problems and improving signal strength and should be backwards-compatible with (for desktop PCs) a dedicated network card.
as well as available bandwidth. earlier equipment. More and more motherboards are coming with
802.11b was the first standard to be used wi-fi compatibility built-in, so if you have a
widely, and this has since been superceded by Hardware setup newer computer then you might find that you
802.11g, which offers a maximum bitrate of The good news is that your Internet Service don’t need any additional adaptor.
54Mbit/s (as opposed to 11Mbit/s in the earlier Provider (ISP) should provide all the hardware Many routers now combine a modem and
version). 802.11n has yet to be officially that you need to get online as part of its router into the one device, so the unit plugs
confirmed as a standard, though you can package. The ISP might even arrange for an straight into the master socket in your home. If
already buy hardware that uses it – this latest engineer to come to your home to install the you’re using cable broadband (see below), then
evolution can reach bitrates of 300Mbit/s across equipment, though the process is the router plugs into the set-top box that
two streams (with a potential throughput or straightforward enough for most users to delivers your TV channels. Networks don’t have
transfer speed of 100Mbit/s). The strength of manage themselves. With a wireless router in to be wireless, of course – if your PC is in easy
the signal on your network is determined both place, piping out broadband around your home, reach of the router, then you can enjoy a faster
by your router and the wireless adaptor you’ll then need an adaptor on each of your and more reliable connection by joining the
installed on your PC or laptop. If the need arises, desktop PCs and laptops – this adaptor can be two devices with a standard Ethernet cable.
You’ll need to attach the three wireless antennas supplied to the Before you plug the USB adaptor into your PC or laptop, it’s
3 sockets round at the back of the router. The feed coming from your
ADSL or cable modem can be plugged into the Internet socket at the
4 important that you install the supplied software. By buying extra
adaptors, you can hook up more machines – for maximum
back of the router. You’ll also need to plug in the mains adaptor to compatibility, it’s recommended that you buy adaptors from the
power the unit. same manufacturer.
PC Explorer ISSUE 66 51
WI-FI NETWORKING
Powerline
networking kits
like these are
available from
suppliers such as
www.devolo.co.uk
mains adaptor, you can run another wired

adaptor from any plug socket in the home. The
signal is likely to be more stable, as there’s no
wireless broadcasting involved.
While this sounds ideal in practice, and can be
of great benefit to those in larger houses, it is a
more expensive and less flexible option.
BT’s Home Hub equipment uses the latest wi-fi technology and includes a VoIP handset as well
Whether or not powerline adaptors are suitable
for your own network will depend on your
Modifying an existing setup box, which picks up the original wi-fi signal and individual circumstances and what you need
Even if most of the hard work is done by your then retransmits it at a higher rate, reaching a from your network. To see some of the
ISP in terms of hardware configuration, there’s greater distance. Check out forum postings at a powerline kits available on the market, visit an
no harm in modifying the setup to suit your own site such as www.digitalspy.co.uk for some online hardware retailer such as
needs. Be certain that you know what you’re real-life examples of hardware setups that can www.ebuyer.com or www.dabs.com. As
doing though, as your ISP may not be obliged to be used to extend the range of your wi-fi signal, always, take note of the customer reviews
offer technical support if you have customised as there are many different permutations and included with each product to help you make an
the network configuration in some way. some are more complicated (and expensive) informed decision.
If you’re living in a large home and the than others.
supplied router is struggling to reach each of the Hardware options
rooms where signal is needed, you might want Alternative networking With a router in place broadcasting a wi-fi
to consider boosting the range of the wi-fi. One One of the alternatives to wi-fi networking to signal around your home, there are a number
of the ways to do this is by replacing the appear in recent years is the concept of of choices for connecting each of your PCs up
antenna on your router with a more powerful powerline networks. This technology makes use to it. Many modern laptops and motherboards
one (be sure to check that you have a of the powerlines already in place inside your now feature built-in wireless functionality, so
compatible router before you start pulling it home, in effect turning them into an Ethernet there’s no need for any additional hardware –
apart). It’s also possible to use a range extender network. With your router plugged into one your laptop or desktop will simply detect
Secure your wi-fi connection
Router settings can be accessed by typing the device’s IP address into If your router supports both WEP and WPA you should opt for the
1 your browser. You should find the address is on a label on the device
itself. You’ll need to sign in with an admin password, and your first job
2 latter to ensure maximum protection. You’ll also need to select a
pre-shared key to establish the connection between devices – try
should be to change this from the default one given in the to make this at least 16 characters long and use a mix of letters and
documentation. numbers.
WI-FI NETWORKING
hardware retailers, and companies such as need to enter the MAC address of each network
www.belkin.co.uk provide a full range of card. Whilst using MAC address filtering offers a
routers and wireless adaptors. very high level of security, it does make it more
Open up the Device Manager component difficult to attach new devices.
from within Control Panel and you’ll be able to
see the wired and wireless devices detected on WEP versus WPA
your PC. With the correct hardware installed, Enabling encryption is the most important part
both Windows XP and Windows Vista have the of securing your wireless network. Older routers
built-in ability to detect standard wi-fi networks can only use the WEP standard, which uses a
that are in range. To connect to a secured shared key to authenticate devices and needs to
wireless signal, you’ll need to supply a valid be entered each time you configure a new
network key (see the guide over the page for device on the network. Whilst it’s better than
more details). nothing, WEP can be cracked by a
knowledgeable hacker because the key it uses is
Keeping your network secure fixed and attached to each packet. If you have to
Whilst it’s undoubtedly convenient, wireless use WEP, you should change the key
networking poses a unique set of risks, occasionally to ensure you stay as secure as
particularly since many routers come supplied possible.
Belkin is one company that produces a full range of with their built-in security features turned off. Using WPA encryption is much more secure
wireless routers and adaptors for your home computers There are two parts to securing a wireless and should be your choice if your hardware
network – firstly, to ensure that the data supports it. This method also uses a pre-shared
wireless networks as they appear. If your laptop transmitted is encrypted so that it can’t be easily key (PSK) in order to connect, but thanks to its
doesn’t have wireless, then you can invest in a intercepted, and secondly to prevent use of Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) a
simple USB dongle that will provide the unauthorised access by your neighbours or different key is used on each packet that’s
functionality. These dongles will also work on passers by who might want to access the PCs on transmitted, making WPA much more difficult to
desktop PCs, as well as internal PCI cards that your network or simply steal some of your crack. Each time you attach a new PC or other
slot inside your case – while they are more broadband bandwidth. device to the network you’ll need to supply the
difficult to install, they generally provide a In terms of encryption, most home routers PSK, and your master key should be at least 16
stronger, more stable connection, and won’t now offer both the older Wired Equivalent characters long and a mix of letters and
take up one of the USB ports on your case Privacy (WEP) option and the newer WiFi numbers in order to offer the best protection. If
(which you may need for other peripherals). All Protected Access (WPA) – you should use the you’re running Windows XP you must have
of these devices are widely available from most latter wherever possible, as it offers a greater Service Pack 2 installed in order to enable the
level of security. With either system you need to WPA client.
provide a key when connecting in order to
authenticate the device.
As well as enabling the wireless security
settings you should take additional steps to
protect your router from unauthorised access. As
a first step you should change the Service Set
Identifier (SSID) – by default this is usually the
name of the router manufacturer, so if you
haven’t changed it hackers may be able to guess
the default password. It’s also a good idea to
change the router’s admin password to prevent
changes being made to its settings. It’s possible
You can view the wired and wireless network devices to restrict your router so that only specified Newer wireless routers support the superior WPA
installed on your PC via the Device Manager utility devices can attach, and for this to work you standard for improved home network security
By default, most routers broadcast their Service Set ID in order to Routers usually have additional security options, and most include a
3 allow devices to find them easily. This is usually the maker’s name, so
it’s a good idea to change it so as not to giveaway important
4 built-in firewall to protect against outside intrusion. It’s worth turning
this on, though you shouldn’t rely on it alone – you need to have a
information to potential hackers. For maximum protection you should software firewall installed on your PC as well to provide maximum
turn off SSID broadcasting. protection.
WI-FI NETWORKING
The Network and Sharing Centre

Windows Vista includes a Network and Sharing Centre interface that
you can access through Control Panel or via the Network option on
the Start menu. This screen enables you to see at-a-glance the
networks that you’re connected to, and how your information is
being shared with other machines hooked up to the same router.
Follow the Customise link on the right, and you can hide your
computer from other local users, as well as manage the PC’s
network connections (you might want to switch from a wireless
connection to a wired one, for example). Of course, being
connected to a home network means that you can share much
more than broadband – it’s also possible to share printers and hard
drive folders (whether on a PC or a standalone external disk), so
everyone on the network can benefit from the resources that are
available.
For an ideal setup, you’ll want to invest in a printer or storage
device that is configured for networks. While you can make use of
standard printers and external hard drives, the computers to which
they are attached will have to remain on constantly in order to let Storage drives such as the Droboshare (www.drobo.com)
other users gain access to them. provide storage to everyone on the network
At the back of your router you should have a connection to the power The router settings can be accessed through the IP address that
1 supply, a cable leading to the modem or your phone line, and
Ethernet cables stretching to PCs nearby on the network. Additional
2 you’ll find in the supplied documentation. Simply type in this
address into your Web browser’s address bar, then enter the default
computers can be added wirelessly, which removes the need for password and user name (which should also be printed somewhere
physical cabling. in the user manual).
Every router will have a different set of screens to work through, but Windows Vista features a new look Network and Sharing Centre that
3 you shouldn’t find it too difficult to navigate between the various
sections. Under the Wireless Settings you can configure the SSID
4 you can access via the Control Panel. Here you can view and edit all
of the settings relating to your computer’s network connection –
broadcast by your router, which is the name given to the network click on the View full map link to see all of the PCs connected to
that will appear in Windows. your router.
WI-FI NETWORKING
In Windows Vista you can view a series of wireless networks that If WEP or WPA protection has been enabled on the router, then you’ll
5 are in range before deciding which one to connect up to. You’ll be
able to see the signal strength of each network, and Windows will
6 need to provide a password. This may be printed on a sticker on the
router, and can also be accessed through the router screens we
also tell you whether or not there is some form of security looked at earlier. Enter the password carefully, then click Connect to
protection in place. access the Web.
When you’re correctly connected to a local network and/or the On the Network Connections screen you can manage the wired and
7 Internet, a small icon will appear in the lower right hand corner
indicating all is well. In the case of a wireless connection, you can
8 wireless connections set up on your computer, disabling and
enabling them as required. To make more detailed changes to a
hover over this icon to check up on the signal strength, and to see the particular connection, right-click on it and choose Properties from the
SSID we mentioned earlier. menu that appears.
The Properties screen will reveal a range of different settings that On the Network and Sharing Centre screen you can follow the View
9 should all be correctly configured by Windows. Open up the TCP/IP
Properties screen (by selecting the entry and clicking Properties) and
10 computers and devices link on the left hand side to see a list of all the
other computers visible on your local network. If you’re working in
you should find your PC is assigned an IP address automatically by the home you might only see one or two, but office networks will
the router. feature more.
PCE58 Connect to a network 16/7/07 10:40 Page 88
INTERNET & EMAIL
Connect to
a network
Microsoft’s new operating system makes it easier than ever to hook
up to other computers over a network, as David Nield demonstrates
ith more accessible, more powerful and less different options that you can get at and tweak from
W expensive hardware arriving all the time, home
networking is enjoying a rapid growth in popularity.
this one screen – from connecting to a wireless
network to viewing a map of linked PCs, you’ll find it
It’s not just computers on our home networks either all here (open up Control Panel from the Start menu
– printers, hard drives and media centres can all be and select Network and Internet/ Network and
easily connected up, enabling users to share Sharing Centre to get to it). When you plug a
resources and digital content in just a few clicks of network cable into your PC, or install a wireless card,
the mouse. Windows Vista includes redesigned Vista should have no problems in connecting up
networking technology, improving support for both your computer.
wired and wireless connections and ensuring that PC If necessary, click the Connect to a network link on
HOW TO GUIDE users at every level can get connected to a network
quickly. We’ll give you a brief guide to some of the
the left of the Network and Sharing Centre and follow
the instructions that appear on screen. As well as
SOFTWARE: features and screens that you’ll come across in the making it easier to get online, the Vista Network and
Windows Vista guide that follows. Sharing Centre also makes it more straightforward to
LEVEL: share files and folders with other PCs connected to
Intermediate The Network and Sharing Centre your own. If you’re just setting up an Internet
The new-look Network and Sharing Centre, connection for the first time, make sure you have the
ON THE WEB: accessible from the Start menu or Control Panel, is instructions and registration details supplied by your
www.microsoft.com/vista where you can access all of your connection Internet Service Provider (ISP), as well as any necessary
information and settings. There are a whole host of software discs.
Setting up a router
Routers certainly make life a lot easier for the humble home
user. They can plug directly into your Internet connection and
then share it out equally to all of the PCs in your home,
making sure no wires are crossed and all resources are divided
properly. If you can’t get on the Web, then the router options
screen is a good area to check for problems. From here you
can also beef up the security provided by the router, and
check which computers are hooked up.
The standard way of accessing your router is by typing its IP
address into the address bar of your Web browser (check the
documentation that came with the device if you don’t know
what it is). Via the router settings screen you can keep an eye
on the status of your connection, troubleshoot problems, and
hide the network name from being broadcast.
The model shown here is a BT Voyager router, which
provides all of the basic options needed on a home network
and then some. Note that a username and password will be
required to log on (a default log on will be listed in the
manual, which you should change as soon as possible). By accessing your router through a Web browser, you can access a range of useful network settings
88 The Ultimate Windows Vista Handbook PC Explorer Essentials Series

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INTERNET & EMAIL
Click on Start Menu/ Network and you’ll be able to see the devices and The network page should include an entry for your router, if there is one on
1 computers that your PC is hooked up to. On larger networks, it may take some
time before every device appears. Using the toolbar options at the top you can
2 your network. Right-click on it and choose Properties to see more information
about the router, including the model, manufacturer and a link to the device’s
add a new wireless device or a printer. webpage (which opens in your browser).
Click on the Network and Sharing Centre link to visit the main network Select View full map to see a more detailed diagram of your network
3 interface within Vista. All kinds of information is displayed here, including how
your PC is connecting to the Web, and how it interacts with the other
4 connections, or Connect to a network to join a different one (such as a wireless
signal set up in your home). Click on the Set up a connection or network
machines currently installed on the network. option on the left to create a new broadband or dial-up connection.
By clicking on Manage network connections you can view details of the The Local Area Network Properties screen will look familiar to XP users, but
5 networks that your PC is currently connected to (just one in this case). Right-
click on the network icon and choose Properties for more details (you’ll need
6 there are a number of extras here, such as the support for IPv6. Click Configure
to change the settings of your network card or device, or use the Properties
to be running an Administrator account for this). option to set up the network connection itself.
PC Explorer Essentials Series The Ultimate Windows Vista Handbook 89

XPHB4 pp112-119:XPHB3 pp24-33 9/12/08 10:48 Page 112
Network your
home PCs
Share a broadband connection,
files and hardware devices with a
home computer network
A
lthough actual statistics are thin on the ground, an increasing
number of households possess more than one PC these days.
There’s a good chance that you yourself own at least two, and
the most common reason for this is systems becoming old and outdated
– many people prefer to buy a brand new ready-to-use computer, rather
than going to the hassle of upgrading the old one, and the still-functioning
original then gets passed on to the kids for them play on. Fights over the
family’s lone PC are commonplace so this hand-me-down approach
makes a lot of sense. Laptops have also become popular with home users
over the past few years, so even if you only have the one desktop system
you might still have two computers in the house, or possibly more.
Networking these computers together is an obvious path to take. Not
only because it makes sharing files and folders between the systems
much easier – simply drag and drop – but because you can share
hardware between them too. The main resource to share is your
internet connection, but you can just as easily use a single printer or
webcam across multiple PCs, saving you an awful lot of time,
awkwardness and money. Setting up a home network is easy, as
Windows does most of the hard work for you, but there are several
things to consider, not least the type of network you want – wired,
wireless or a combination of the two.
Wayne Williams
Protecting your network

Connecting one PC to the internet can be dangerous enough, what with viruses,
Trojans, worms and hackers to worry about, but a network is even more at risk. There
are several steps you need to do to protect it – the first is to make sure you have all
the latest service packs and critical updates from Microsoft installed on all of your PCs.
Next, make sure you install a good virus checker on every computer in the
network, and also a good anti-spyware program. To keep your network secure you
will need to set up a firewall, a program (or piece of hardware) designed to prevent
other unwanted computers from communicating with your PC. Windows XP comes
with a built-in firewall which is turned on by default when you install Service Pack 2.
If you have a wireless network then you’ll need to secure this by encrypting it using
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). If you don’t take
this measure, anyone near enough could use your broadband connection for free.
Read your router manual for details of how to encrypt your connection, and be sure
to change the default password as well.
Secure your Wi-Fi network to

stop other people from using
it without your knowledge
112 The Essential Windows XP Handbook

You can add a PC to a wireless network in just a couple of clicks

you’re only connecting up a couple of computers, then
Networking basics you can use one of them in place of a router (i.e. one PC
Networking technologies have been around almost as connects to the Web via the other) – though you’ll save
long as home computers themselves, but the idea has money, the main computer will need to be on for the The Network Setup Wizard makes configuring
the PCs on your network much simpler
only really gathered momentum outside the realm of secondary one to have access, so a router is still a more
enthusiasts and professionals with the growth of the convenient option. these addresses automatically.
Web. The Internet is a prime example of the The vast majority of routers that you’ll find in the If you run into problems getting your network to
usefulness and necessity of networks, and the need to shops will be able to connect together four PCs via the operate properly, or you are connecting up
get every PC in a home online has helped drive standard cabled method, as well as dozens more computers running older versions of Windows, then
development and take up. wirelessly. Make sure the router you buy matches the the Network Setup Wizard can help – you can find it
Nowadays, most home networks make at least some type of Internet connection you have, and offers some in Control Panel or under the Network Tasks pane in
use of wireless technology – data is streamed through the form of security protection for wireless broadcasts. If My Network Places. This will identify what hardware
air, making wiring no longer necessary. With the launch of you’re buying a new computer from a shop or online set up you currently have, and create a utility that
Windows XP, networking was made easier than ever, and retailer, you’ll find that it makes some kind of reference you can run on each networked computer to add it
is now well within the reach of home users. A wired to networking capabilities, so make sure you buy one to the group.
network is more reliable and secure than a wireless one, compatible with your system. Some packages will If you open up device manager (right-click on My
but running cables around your home isn’t always include a router as well, if you’re starting up a network Computer, choose Properties and then Hardware),
practical. Most home networks make use of both types of from scratch. you should see a network adapter listed. This is a
connections – if you can easily connect a PC via an good place to start when trying to troubleshoot
Ethernet cable then you should do, but computers can be Going into Windows networking problems, and you can access the device
added wirelessly in just a couple of clicks and thus offer a XP is built with networking in mind, so its refreshingly settings by right-clicking on its entry in device
much more convenient option. Bear in mind that wireless easy to set up a network using the operating system. manager and choosing Properties. Most of the tabs
networks can be affected by other devices (such as mobile Once you’ve got your hardware set up correctly, that appear won’t need to be changed, but if you are
phones), and don’t travel too well through metal or walls, Windows will recognise that the PC has become part of experiencing difficulties then you might want to try
so try and position your router as centrally as possible. a network, and you can then configure this by visiting following the Troubleshoot link or reinstalling the
Network Connections in Control Panel, right-clicking relevant driver.
The right hardware set up on the icon that appears, and choosing Properties. XP will automatically create a Shared Documents
Most pre-built PCs on the market will come with From this window you can alter the TCP/IP settings folder on your hard drive which other network users
networking capabilities built into the motherboard, but (TCP/IP being the standard protocol for network can access, and you can use this to give others access to
it is possibly to buy hardware to connect up older communication, including the Web), and set exact IP your files while still keeping your hard drive private. If
machines too. Every PC needs some way of addresses for your computers. IP addresses work very you want to allow access to additional folders on your
connecting to the network – if this is via a cable, then much like postal addresses, and identify each machine system, right-click on the folder in Windows Explorer
you’ll need either an Ethernet port on your uniquely – unless you’re sure what you’re doing, we’d and choose the Sharing and Security option from the list
motherboard or a PCI card that provides an Ethernet recommend that you leave XP and your router to assign that appears.
port (known as a network interface card or NIC). If the
computer is connecting wirelessly, you’ll need a
wireless adapter, which can be either internal or
external (i.e. USB).
If you’re sharing an Internet connection as well as
other resources (and the vast majority of users are),
then you’ll probably want a router in order to split the
connection and share information between your PCs. If
Each PC on your network will need some way of Let Windows assign IP addresses and it will control You can decide which folders on your hard
connecting – a PCI card is one option communication between your PCs drive other network users can access
The Essential Windows XP Handbook 113

1 If you’re setting up a LAN then you’ll need to add a network card to each of
the computers on your network (assuming they don’t already come with
2 Next, we’ll install a wireless router for our connection to the internet. Plug
the cable from your ADSL connection into the back of the router. Next,
one pre-installed). Open up your case and install the card, and when Windows plug one end of an RJ-45 network cable into the socket marked LAN on the wireless
boots up the new hardware will be ready to use. router (this will plug into the back of the network router later).
3 The wireless modem will need setting up to work with your ADSL
connection. Most devices are controlled through a web user interface and
4 You will need to secure your wireless network (using either WEP or WPA
encryption) to stop snoopers accessing your connection. Encryption is set
this one is no different. Enter the supplied IP address into the browser and follow through the web interface, using a passphrase – when connecting to an encrypted
the instructions as per your manual. Each device will work slightly differently. network you’ll enter the same passphrase.
5 This particular wireless modem comes with a USB adaptor. To get it

working, plug it into your computer’s USB port and install the driver
6 If you wanted to, you could set-up a totally wireless network. To do this
you’ll need adapters installed in (or plugged into) all of the PCs on the
software. Once it’s installed it will look for any wireless networks, and when it finds WAN. Go to Start/ My Network Places and choose to Setup a Wireless Network for
yours it will ask you for your security key. Enter this to connect to the internet. a Home or Small Office Network. Step through the Wizard and reboot at the end.
114 The Essential Windows XP Handbook

7 Now we’ll connect up a DSL router. Plug one end of a RJ-45 network cable
into the first PC on your network and then plug the other end into one of
8 Go to Start/ My Network Places and choose to Setup a Home or Small
Office Network. Step through the Wizard and reboot at the end. Run the
the free ports on your router. Repeat the process with different cables for each of wizard on the other machines, remembering to make the domain name the same
the PCs you wish to add. Finally, connect your wireless modem to the router. on all of them. Your network should now be fully installed.
9 You may need to configure your DSL router to use the wireless modem,
and again this is likely to be controlled through a web interface. Follow the
10 With a network in place, adding new computers is very simple. A Windows
XP system with a wireless adapter attached should automatically detect
supplied instructions and you should be able to get it working without too many the network, while attaching a PC directly to the router is even easier. IP addresses
problems. You now have a wired and wireless network. will be automatically assigned by the router.
11 You should be able to see the other computers and laptops in your home
via My Network Places once all of the wired and wireless connections are in
12 To set up a printer across the network, go to Start/ Control Panel/ Printers
and Other Hardware. Click on Add A Printer, then click Next, select A
place. If you decide to share files and folders between them, you can browse other Network Printer, then Browse for Printer. Double-click the computer the printer is
PCs remotely from this screen. attached to, select the printer you want and click Next to finish.
The Essential Windows XP Handbook 115

PCU105 Xpert-Tech Talk Internet:PCU 3/9/08 15:57 Page 63
▲
TECH TALK EXPERT
Tech talk:
The Internet
Millions of computers connected like one giant network – Simon Clark
looks the infrastructure of the Internet in a bit more detail
t’s often said that no single entity may be wondering why you need an ISP additional equipment that’s required. Your
I owns the Internet. While this is true

it is overseen by a group called the
Internet Society. This is a non-profit
when you have a PC and router at your
disposal. Surely you can bypass the ISP
and just hook up to the Internet yourself?
ISP already has this. Furthermore, it will
have paid for links to the ‘Internet
Backbone’. This is the most important
organisation, which decides on the In theory the answer is yes. However, it part of the Internet that’s made up of
protocols and policies used with the would cost you a small fortune with all the multiple networks between major
Internet. Since its beginnings in 1969 organisations and large educational
the Internet has grown to a global facilities. Even if you’re using a Wi-Fi
network of millions upon millions of connection you’ll still be connecting to the
computers. Today the Internet is Internet via an ISP, even if it’s not yours.
something we all take for granted. We For every computer to function on the
expect it work first time, every time Internet and be indentified it must have
with as little delay as possible. However, its own IP (Internet Protocol) address.
there are a number of elements to its This is a set of numbers that takes on a
infrastructure which are worth knowing format similar to 212.58.253.67. If
about. The kudos of sounding you’re curious to find out yours go along
knowledgeable among your friends is to www.whatismyipaddress.com. Your
just one reason to find out more. ISP allocates your IP address. Many
Another is to gain an understanding of home users have what is called a
what makes it tick. This may help you dynamic IP address. This means their
diagnose problems with your own number is assigned automatically and it
connection in the future. Now’s your may change each time they connect to
chance to find out more. the Internet. Alternatively, some ISPs
We connect to the Internet via an ▲ The Internet Society ensures the Open development provide their customers with static IP
Internet Service Provider (ISP). Now you and evolution of the Internet around the world addresses which never change. All IP
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issue 105 www.pc-utilities.co.uk

▲
EXPERT TECH TALK
212.58.253.67 doesn’t make as much

sense to us as www.bbc.co.uk. This
name is known as a domain.
Computers still need to communicate
using numbers rather than names.
Therefore, when you type a domain into
your computer or click on a link your
computer needs to translate the domain
name into a number. It does this so it
can communicate effectively with the
computer holding the information you’re
▲ You can use Trace Route to see the route
trying to retrieve. The first thing that
from your PC to a website on the Internet
happens is your computer contacts a
computer owned by your ISP called its forwarded to one the Internet’s root
DNS (Domain Name System) server. This name servers. These root name servers
server holds details of all known domain keep records of every single domain
names and IP addresses for websites. name and their records are constantly
▲ ICANN monitors and
numbers, dynamic or static, are Let’s say you type www.bbc.co.uk in updated. When a new website is added
controls the Internet
assigned from a specific range that’s your browser. If your ISP’s DNS servers to the Internet it’s not instantly visible
addressing system
allocated to your ISP. This means that have the DNS information for this across the Web. This is because it takes
wherever you go on the Internet you can time for the new address to propagate
be traced. While you can’t be personally on name servers around the world.
identified from your IP address you can Details of your ISP’s domain name
still be associated to your ISP. In some servers are stored in your router
cases your IP address can even divulge configuration program. Incorrect DNS
your approximate geographical location. entries are often the cause of Internet
Go along to http://visualroute.visual connection problems. This can be due to
ware.com/ and click on Start. Wait while wrong numbers being entered or the
the program traces your location. Click servers not functioning correctly. The
on the Map tab to see a geographical efficiency of these DNS servers can also
representation. Double-click an area of have an impact on the speed of your
the map to zoom in. You’ll find a similar Internet connection. What’s interesting
tool at www.whatismyipaddress.com/. about DNS servers is that you don’t
have to use your ISP’s. Try a third-party
IP and DNS service such as OpenDNS at
We already know that the Internet relies www.opendns.com and see if you get
on IP addresses. However, these any performance improvements.
numbers make more sense to computers ▲ DNS servers are domain then your request to view the
than they do humans. When you want to used to translate
Web addresses into
site will be sent to www.bbc.co.uk and it Packet data
browse the Internet you could type will appear in your browser. Something else you need to be aware of
IP numbers and
212.58.253.67 into your browser but Most ISPs will cache DNS information, is that data doesn’t travel in a straight
vice versa
after a while all these numbers would be in order to reduce traffic on their line over the Internet. It’s easy to
difficult to remember. Therefore, IP system. If your ISP’s DNS servers do not assume that your information simply
numbers get translated into words to have information for the domain you’re goes from A to B. The truth of the
make life easier for us. For example requesting then your request will be matter is that it goes via X, Y and Z on
How do search engines work?

Search engines such as Google are crawler-based. This
means that their listings are created automatically using
software often referred to as a spider. This scours the
Internet looking for webpages and documents. All of these
are collected and returned to the search engine for indexing.
The indexing software extracts information from the pages
that it finds and creates a database. This could be the entire
page or the document title and just a few words.
When you carry out a search and enter your keywords,
the results are taken from the database. Your results are
listed in the form of a set of links. A high ranking in a
search engine will guarantee that your webpage is seen by
more people. During the creation of a webpage there are
certain techniques which can be used to make it easier for
a search engine to index that page. Certain keywords can
be embedded within the code of the page, which are used
when it’s indexed. Use of the right keywords can
sometimes help improve results rankings. If you don’t want
to wait for the spider to find your site, most search engines
have a facility for manual submission. ▲ Search engines such as Google scour the Internet using special software to locate pages for indexing
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www.pc-utilities.co.uk issue 105

▲
TECH TALK EXPERT
How does email work?

When you click on Send your email program sends the
message off to the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
server at your ISP. Let’s say you’re sending a message to
john@genericserver.com. The server looks at the email
address in two parts, the account name john and the
domain name genericserver.com. The SMTP server
contacts a DNS server to translate the domain name into
an IP address. Once this IP address has been sent back
the SMTP server sends the email address to the SMTP
server of genericserver.com. The SMTP server of
genericserver then delivers the message to the mail
account of john on its POP3 (Post Office Protocol3) server.
John will then check if any email is waiting for him on the
POP3 server and the message will be delivered.
It’s possible to view your messages while they reside on
your ISP’s mail server before you download them to your
PC. You can do this using a free program such as
ePrompter (www.eprompter.com).
The receiver uses this information to

▲ Your IP address can often divulge your approximate geographical location reassemble the data packets in case
they arrive out of sequence.
the way. On its journey from your PC to broken down into small packets so it can
its destination and back again it will pass be sent more efficiently. In essence All change
through numerous routers and servers. TCP/IP is two different protocols The IP addressing system that we’re
You can see this in action right now working simultaneously. The first of using is all set to change. Its technical
using the Traceroute tool in Windows. If these is IP (Internet Protocol) which is name is IPv4 and it needs to change for
you’re using Windows XP, click on Start/ used to provide information. It ensures a very important reason – the pool of IP
Run, type cmd and press Enter. In that the packets of data that are being numbers is running out. During the early
Windows Vista click on Start, type sent contain the IP address of the days of the Internet no one could have
command prompt and press Enter. At sending computer and the IP address of predicted just how big a phenomenon it
the prompt, type tracert and then a Web the destination machine. Without the was going to be. At the time, the 4
address. For example, tracert correct addresses it would not be billion or so possible number
www.yahoo.com. Each router or server possible to send the data. The other combinations were considered an
your information request passes protocol is called TCP (Transmission adequate amount. The expansion of the
through is called a ‘hop’. The first few Control Protocol). When the two
hops will be your ISP. After that it will machines in question attempt to
go out over the Internet until it reaches establish a connection using IP the TCP
its destination. protocol controls the data flow. The
receiving machine sends confirmation
Your connection in action back to the sender that data packets
When data is sent over the Internet it are being received OK. The sender
uses a protocol called TCP/IP. Data is identifies the order of the data packets.
▲ Domain names must

be translated into IP Internet means that more numbers are
addresses before your needed. Therefore, the addressing
browser can be system is going to change to IPv6. (In
directed to the right case you’re wondering, IPv5 was used
location for something else which explains the
jump to IPv6.)
This new IPv6 addressing system
means there will now be 340 trillion
trillion trillion numbers available, so it’s
Useful links extremely unlikely we’ll ever run out

again. Although your PC will need to be
Internet Society configured to use IPv6, for the average
www.isoc.org user the changeover will be seamless.
ICANN Windows Vista users won’t have to do
www.icann.org anything as the protocol is already
RIPE installed. Windows XP users will need to
www.ripe.net have Service Pack 2 running for the
Nominet protocol to work. The rollout of the new
www.nominet.org.uk addressing system began earlier this
▲ Windows Vista is already prepared for the change over to IPv6 year and will continue gradually.
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PCU99 Xpert-Tech Talk Firewalls 18/3/08 17:18 Page 63
▲
TECH TALK EXPERT
Tech talk:
Internet firewalls
In this month’s Tech Talk Wayne Williams tells you everything you need to know
about protecting your network with a firewall, and looks at the available options
hese days you really need three blocking an unsolicited connection can
T things to keep your computer

safe on the Internet. An antivirus
program, a spyware scanner and a good
prevent a hacker gaining access to your
system, while containing outgoing traffic
can prevent malware on your computer
firewall. Windows comes with a firewall making contact with the outside world.
built in, although as we’ll discuss later, A network without a firewall is like a
there are much better options available. house with its doors unlocked. Almost
A firewall can be implemented in anyone who wants to gain access can,
hardware or software and its role is very and with relative ease.
straightforward. It acts as a gatekeeper,
scanning network traffic and allowing or How firewalls work
denying it based on trust levels and user Firewalls control Internet traffic in four
input. This can be a lifesaver at times – ways – packet filtering, circuit-level
▲ One of the best known

gateways, application-level gateways
free firewalls,
and stateful multilayer inspection. These
ZoneAlarm places all
untrusted computers methods can be used individually or
into the Internet Zone combined, depending on the firewall.
Packet filtering is the most basic of
these options and is mostly used in
hardware routers. Data packets moving
from one side of the firewall to the
other are compared against a set of
▲
Packet filtering checks the IP addresses and TCP/UDP ports of every data packet policies or rulesets, as they attempt to
63
▲
▲
EXPERT TECH TALK
▲ Most firewalls will

pass through. Operating at the OSI
block all incoming
network layer (see the OSI model traffic unless it’s
section below for more details), this been requested by a ▲ Comodo’s free firewall not only defends you from the
filtering system checks a packet’s trusted device dangers of the Internet but also protects against malware
▲
Most routers offer some
header for its source and destination IP form of firewall
addresses, and TCP/UDP ports. If a protection. This wireless
packet passes inspection it will be one from D-Link offers
allowed through. If it fails the filtering both NAT and SPI
process it will be discarded. It’s a fast (stateful packet
inspection)
OSI model
The Open Systems Interconnection Basic Reference Model
was developed in 1984 as part of the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) initiative and is a seven-layered
standard used to describe the flow of data in a network.
The seven layers are:
expecting it within a set time frame, it

and very simple system that treats each knows to let it through. This is passed
packet separately, even if it’s part of an back to the originating computer,
allowed stream of traffic. which will reply with a packet with
A circuit-level gateway operates in just the ACK bit set. This goes to the
the session layer of the OSI model (layer firewall and is forwarded on,
5) and filters traffic based on set establishing the connection. If a
session rules. It automatically closes off hacker tries to get into your system
all ports and denies all incoming traffic by claiming to be delivering data
The easiest way to remember the order is to use the simple unless it has been expressly requested. you’ve requested, the firewall will
mnemonic, “All People Seem To Need Data Processing”. The The firewall also acts as a proxy, block the intrusion automatically
model defines the different stages that data has to go mapping all your internal IP addresses because (a) it’s not expecting it and
through to travel over a network, although it’s rather to a single safe external one. When a (b) it knows it’s not part of an
outdated and abstract now (many protocols don’t actually trusted computer inside the firewall established connection. It’s a bit like
fit into a specific layer). tries to communicate with an untrusted going for a meeting. If the Managing
The layers are divided into two sets: Host (layers 7-4) one outside, the gateway logs the
and Media (3-1), and the various firewall methods work at request, and makes the contact itself.
different OSI levels. Packet filtering operates at the network Remote computers only ever deal with
level, circuit-level gateways run on the session level and the firewall and never with the
application-level gateways at the application level. Stateful originating PC.
multilayer inspection operates across multiple layers. The initial contact – the start of the
The lower down the stack a firewall runs, the simpler and standard TCP three-way handshake –
less knowledgeable it will be. For example, a packet- contains a SYN (synchronise) bit set in
filtering firewall at level 3 knows the basics about the the packet header, identifying it as a
packets it’s handling (where they’ve come from and where new connection. When the Web server
they’re going to), but it doesn’t know what they are or what replies to this it sends a packet with
other packets they’re related to. This makes it easier to fool both the SYN and the ACK ▲ PC Tools Firewall Plus is very easy to use
with IP spoofing – pretending the packets have come from (acknowledge) bits set. Because the but it does offer some advanced features
a trusted source. firewall has asked for this data and is for more experienced users
64
▲
▲
TECH TALK EXPERT
Windows Firewall
The XP firewall is a basic stateful inspection service. It blocks any incoming traffic
that hasn’t been requested, and so provides a reasonable level of protection from
outside attacks. Unfortunately, it lacks any way of filtering application content and
doesn’t monitor outgoing traffic, so there’s nothing to stop malware on your
system from “phoning home”. It’s certainly better than having no firewall at all, but
you shouldn’t rely solely on it to protect your network.
The Vista firewall is much better and adds outgoing protection and user
filtering. This, somewhat clumsily, has to be configured using a snap-in in the
management console. You can run it by clicking Start/ Control Panel/
Administrative Tools/ Windows Firewall With Advanced Security, or by clicking
Start and entering wf.msc into the search box.
packets at the application level (layer

7). As well as controlling all HTTP, Telnet
and FTP traffic they can decide whether
▲ SmoothWall Express is
an application should be allowed option of allowing or denying it. This
a Linux-based Open
outbound access. Software firewalls like non-stop prompting can get irritating,
Source firewall
ZoneAlarm (which are application-level designed to be run on but you can instruct the software to
gateways) enable the user to define and a dedicated PC remember your preference and
change rulesets simply by asking for perform the exact same action every
permission whenever a program tries to time a particular event occurs.
go online (all incoming connections are There are plenty of free personal
blocked automatically). firewalls you can download and install
▲ The Windows Firewall included with XP prevents Stateful multilayer inspection but we recommend three in particular.
external attacks but it’s not very secure firewalls offer a combination of the ZoneAlarm is probably the best known
and is very easy to setup and use.
Director has set it up, you will be Untrusted computers all go through the
expected and allowed in to see him. If secure Internet Zone, but any you’re
you’ve just turned up without an sure are safe can be moved to the
appointment, you’ll be sent away. Trusted Zone. Both zones have low,
Once the connection is established medium and high levels of security.
the firewall will simply forward packets Comodo Firewall Pro is very robust
back and forth between both systems. and, in addition to controlling what
However, because the packets aren’t programs have access to the Internet,
actually checked, any malicious ones it can even help to protect your
that sneak in won’t be picked up by the system from malware via its optional
firewall. This is where application level Host Intrusion Prevention System
gateways come in. (HIPS). Called Defense+, this monitors
Application-level gateways, also often the OS and alerts you every time an
referred to as proxies, are similar to unknown or untrusted application
circuit level gateways in that they attempts to run or install itself
accept requests and forward them on, (though activating this feature does
preventing computers inside the firewall other three methods and process ▲ Vista’s Firewall is a substantially increase the number of
marked improvement
from having direct external contact. The traffic across multiple OSI layers. pop-up messages you’ll receive).
over the one in XP,
obvious difference is that they filter They filter packets at the network Finally, PC Tools Firewall Plus is also
but it’s still not as
level, monitor connections (logging solid or useful as it worth a look. It’s quite straightforward
the data in a state table to determine could b with all the various options accessible
NAT if session packets are legitimate) at from the main screen. It shows you
To access the Internet your computer the session level and evaluate packet network traffic in and out of your PC
needs an IP address. If you have lots
of computers, you’ll need lots of IP
contents at the application level. They
don’t use a proxy though, so trusted
Useful links and you can view or edit
blocked/authorised applications. There’s
ZoneAlarm Free
addresses. The problem is there clients are permitted direct connect also an advanced section, which allows
Firewall
simply aren’t enough of them to go with untrusted systems. This method experienced users to define rules for
www.zonealarm.com
around. Routers solve this problem by offers a high level of security but is specific network communications.
using a system called Network expensive and potentially tricky to Comodo Firewall Pro
www.personalfire
Address Translation. NAT acts as a configure.
wall.comodo.com
proxy, sharing a single IP address The best solution for a home network
among multiple computers, and is to run all of your computers through a PC Tools Firewall
delivering a simple form of stateful router and then install a software Plus
inspection at the same time. While firewall on any devices that are going to www.pctools.com
this process provides a reasonable be accessing the Internet. Firewall Guide
degree of security and prevents www.firewallguide.
unsolicited external traffic from Personal firewalls com
reaching your network, it should be Personal firewalls generally require SmoothWall
viewed as an additional layer of some degree of user input. Every time www.smoothwall.
protection, and not as a replacement a program or a process tries to go orgP ▲ You can make changes to Vista’s Firewall
for a dedicated firewall. online, you’ll be alerted and given the properties through the management console
65
▲
PCU111 Xpert-20 tips WiFi:PCU 19/2/09 09:09 Page 66
▲
EXPERT WIRELESS NETWORKING
Manage your
Wi-Fi network
In this month’s tips section we’ll show you how to secure, manage
and get the most out of your wireless home network
f you don’t already have a wireless network, setting Buffalo etc). These offer the same speed
I one up is relatively straightforward. There are two

main options. The first and most basic is the ad-hoc
or peer-to-peer method. This requires one computer to
and range benefits, and the good news
is they will be fully compatible with the
finished standard.
be hooked up directly to your modem, with a Wi-Fi
adaptor installed in every device that you want to be
part of your network. Each Wi-Fi adaptor will need to be
set for ad-hoc mode and have the same SSID (Service
2 your
Move
router
The position of your router is vital if you
Set Identifier) and channel number. You can configure want to get a good signal. Placing it on
this through the hardware’s Control Panel setting. top of a desk rather than underneath it
The second and far easier solution is to buy a router, will help. The more central its location,
▲ The Linksys DIR-615 router follows the
preferably with a modem built-in, and set up an the more even the signal will be around
802.11n draft 2.0 specification
infrastructure network. You’ll again need a wireless the house. Remember, all sorts of things
adaptor (or built-in Wi-Fi) for every device on your
network, but once installed you only have to configure
your modem then connect and go. It’s very
1 toUpgrade
802.11n
802.11n, the new Wi-Fi standard due to
can degrade a Wi-Fi signal, including
solid walls, floors and furniture. It’s also
susceptible to interference. Try to keep
undemanding, and adding other devices – such as replace 802.11g, has been in your router away from any powerful
additional computers, games consoles or a wireless development since 2004 and is electrical devices – especially ones with
printer – couldn’t be simpler. Routers aren’t overly expected to be finalised by the end of built-in motors – and power cables.
expensive either. You can expect to pay somewhere 2009. It promises massively faster
between £50-£100 for a top 802.11n model and £20-£30
for each matching adaptor.
There’s no question that Wi-Fi is fantastic, especially if
speeds (a theoretical maximum of
300Mb/s) over a vastly increased range
(up to 300ft) due to its use of MIMO
3 hardware
Make sure your
is compatible
To get the full benefit from a wireless
you want the freedom to connect to the Internet from (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) – network you really should make sure
anywhere in the house or on the move. Over the additional transmitting and receiving your router and wireless adaptors are
following four pages we’ll show you how to surf securely, antennas. Although the standard has yet from the same manufacturer and
overcome common problems, find the best hotspots and to be fully ratified you can already buy product line. If they’re not, you could
generally get the most out of your wireless setup. 802.11n draft 2.0 devices from all the find you get a slower and less reliable
Wayne Williams usual manufacturers (D-Link, Netgear, connection. It’s especially important in
66
▲

▲
WIRELESS NETWORKING EXPERT
4 SECURE YOUR NETWORK
▲ connection
To prevent anyone leaching off your Wi-Fi
it’s vital you encrypt it. Open up a ▲ offer
Find the Security Options. Your router should
a choice of encryption methods. WEP ▲ and
Enter a security key. This should be between 8
63 characters in length. The longer you
1 browser window and log into your router

following the instructions in your manual. Find
the Wireless Settings option. Some people
2 (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is the most basic
and will deter casual snoopers. It can be very
easily cracked though so your best bet is to
3 can make it, the harder it will be to crack. If
you can’t think up one, the WLAN Key
Generator www.speedguide.net/wlan_key.php
claim hiding your SSID adds an additional layer choose WPA or WPA2 if available. There may can help. Make a note of the key and keep it
of security, but in truth it doesn’t offer any be several variations to choose from. somewhere safe.
real protection.
the case of 802.11n draft hardware. If Broadband customers can join the
you have an 802.11n router, but your community immediately, but if you use
wireless adaptors all use 802.11g, you’ll another ISP you’ll need to purchase a
be able to connect without problems but FON Wi-Fi router first, which costs £30.
you won’t enjoy the speed benefits of Alternatively you can access the
the new standard. network without sharing your
connection by buying a voucher.
8 profiles
Set up
Netprofiles enables you to create
individual profiles for any wireless
networks that you visit on a regular basis
– work, home, your local coffee shop and
so on. You can store a range of different
settings for each connection including IP
address, primary and secondary DNS
▲ Repairing a dropped wireless ▲ Upgrading your
support section on your manufacturer’s router’s firmware can servers, proxy settings and more. You
connection is easy enough website. To upgrade the firmware, save can also set a default printer and change
sometime improve its
the file to your hard drive, log into your your browser homepage and Windows
5 connection
performance
Repair your router and look for a router upgrade wallpaper. If you’re using XP the
option (possibly under Maintenance). software will automatically switch to the
If your wireless connection suddenly relevant profile as soon as a recognised
slows or drops, you can attempt to repair
it. In Vista, right-click the network icon in 7 with
Free Wi-Fi access
BT FON
network is detected.
▲
WirelessKeyView
your system tray and select Diagnose BT FON (www.btfon.com) is an should be able to
And Repair. (If the icon is missing just interesting Wi-Fi initiative that aims to recover any lost
click the Start button and select give all of its members access to free network keys
Network/ Network And Sharing Center. wireless broadband wherever they are in
Diagnose And Repair is listed in the the world. You securely share a small
sidebar.) The troubleshooter will look for portion of your broadband connection
problems and, if it finds something, with other FON users (a maximum of
suggest a solution or let you repair the 512Kb/s), and in return get free access
connection. The process is similar in XP. to any of the 250,000+ global hotspots
Right-click the Network icon in the created by other members. BT Total
system tray and select Repair.
6 Update your
firmware/drivers
9 network
Recover your
key
To be properly secure, wireless network
Hardware manufacturers often release keys need to be very long and made up of
firmware updates for their products, and a mixture of letters and numbers. Unless
router manufacturers are no different. you come up with a catchy passphrase
▲
BT FON hotspots
It’s worth checking periodically to see if aren’t the fastest such as “18sheepwear72socks”, they
new software has been released for your but they should generally aren’t easily remembered. If
device, as this may improve its stability suffice for most you forget the key for a wireless network,
and increase performance. Check the casual surfers’ needs you can easily retrieve it using
67
▲

▲
EXPERT WIRELESS NETWORKING
WirelessKeyView. This pulls up any keys

on your system stored using the Wireless
Zero Configuration service.
10 with
Locate hotspots
MyHotspotter
Trustive (www.trustive.com) has a
network of over 65,000 hotspots installed
in airports, hotels, bars and restaurants
across Europe, including just under 6,000
in the UK. If you use one or more of these ▲ You can connect a Nintendo DS to your
on a regular basis you should consider wireless network, but only using WEP
installing the free Trustive MyHotspotter
tool. This includes a visual hotspot finder
so you can quickly locate the nearest
access point on a map and it will also
15 onManage Wi-Fi
your laptop
Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector is a powerful
alert you as soon as one comes in range. application that can find and connect to
▲ You can configure your
The program remembers all your details, router to send you an advanced configuration options. hotspots and help you manage and
so you can log in immediately just by email alert should it Depending on the manufacturer you troubleshoot a wireless network. It
clicking the pop-up box. detect a significant may be able to adjust the router’s provides details on your current
security event firewall settings, turn on remote
11 settings
Default
If you’ve lost the login details for your
management, block certain sites,
configure port forwarding, turn off
unnecessary lights, and even request
router don’t despair. Provided you that the router send you an email if
haven’t changed the default settings someone tries to hack into your system.
you can use the following usernames
and passwords:
Router
3Com
Address
http://192.168.1.1
Username
admin
Password
admin
14 aSecurely connect
games console
The newest games consoles have Wi-Fi
D-Link http://192.168.0.1 admin built into them. The only exception is the
Linksys http://192.168.1.1 admin admin slightly older Xbox 360, which doesn’t ▲ Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector tells you everything
Netgear http://192.168.0.1 admin password come with a wireless adaptor as standard you need to know about your wireless network
USRobotics http://192.168.2.1 admin admin but you can buy one for it. Connecting
them to your network is no different, or connection (including SSID, Channel and
If you have changed the settings you’ll harder, than connecting any other Mac and IP Addresses) and a real-time
need to reset your router to the factory wireless device. However, they don’t all graph shows the signal strength/history.
defaults first. Look for a reset button on support multiple encryption methods. The program also offers a dynamic radar,
the back of the device and hold it down The Nintendo DS in particular only works which displays all other connections in
for 10 seconds or so. If it has a reset hole, with WEP. Here’s a handy guide: range, including their names and
stick a straightened paperclip into it. Device WEP WPA-PSK WPA2-PSK relative distance. The stronger a signal,
the closer to the centre it will appear.
12 settings
iPhone/iPod touch Yes Yes Yes
Advanced
16 iPhone/iPod
Nintendo DS Yes No No
Nintendo Wii Yes Yes Yes Sniff Wi-Fi using an
When you log into your router to set it PlayStation 3 Yes Yes Yes touch
up, make changes or add encryption, PlayStation Portable Yes Yes No There are several great applications you
take a look at the other settings on Xbox 360 with adaptor Yes Yes No can use to turn Apple’s iPhone/iPod
offer. There will probably be some useful touch into a pocket hotspot locator. The
13 FIND WIRELESS HOTSPOTS
▲ can
There are lots of free Web-based services you
use to find hotspots in any area. JiWire ▲ (www.free-hotspot.com).
Another good service to try is Free Hotspot
As its name ▲ laptop
NetStumbler is a handy tool to have on your
when you’re on the move with no idea
1 (www.jiwire.com) has data for 200,000 global

access points, including an impressive 27,741
in the UK alone. Click the map to begin your
2 suggests, it’s particularly useful for finding no-
cost sites. Just click the Find Free Hotspots
tab then either type some search terms into
3 where the nearest hotspot is located. Run it
and the program will automatically detect any
wireless access points in the vicinity and
search or fill in some details in the box. the box or browse the map. It can tell you provide you with all the details you need,
whether a hotspot is On, Off or Unknown. including signal strength and security status.
68
▲

▲
WIRELESS NETWORKING EXPERT
17 STREAM MEDIA WIRELESSLY
▲ wireless
You can share music, pictures and video over a
network using Windows Media Player ▲ media
Make sure the device you want to share your
with is turned on and connected to the ▲ and
Open up Media Player on the other computer
click the down arrow under Library. Select
1 11. Launch the player and click the arrow under

the Library tab. In the box that opens tick
Share My Media. Doing so automatically
2 network. It should appear in the box. Select it
and click Allow. Click Settings to change the
name you’re sharing under. You can choose
3 Media Sharing as before. Tick the option to
Find Media That Others Are Sharing and click
OK. The other computer will now be able to see
adjusts the Windows Firewall settings, opening which media types to share and restrict and stream your shared media.
the required TCP and UDP ports. content based on star and/or parental ratings.
▲ Vista’s Network connection. If you select either of the

Discovery feature asks first two options Vista will allow your
you specify the type of computer to be discoverable and grant
network you’re more applications access to your
connecting to system. If the network is public it will
lock things down and increase the
Windows firewall security accordingly.
This feature adds a useful layer of
protection but you can easily turn it off
by clicking Disable Network Discovery in
the Networking And Sharing Center.
20 Make
calls
VoIP
You can buy Wi-Fi handsets with Skype
pre-loaded on them
▲
3’s Skypephone is
which will let you
a regular mobile
that also lets you make calls from
make Skype calls anywhere within
range of a wireless
network. Probably the
coolest of the various
models is the 3
most popular is JiWire’s free Wi-Fi Finder, Skypephone
which lists over 200,000 locations in 135 (http://3skype
countries. You can use the location phone.com/). This is a
feature to find hotspots that are near to regular mobile phone
you, or search by town (but not currently with Skype baked-in.
by postcode). You will need to be online You can use it to
to be able to use it with the iPod touch. make free unlimited calls to other Skype
Other non-free apps to consider include users worldwide, or standard mobile-
WifiTrak (59p), WiFiFoFum (£1.79) or Total rate calls over the 3 network. You can
Hotspots (£2.99). All are available to also instant message your friends using
download from the Apple App store ▲ WeFi makes it easy to find and connect to Skype chat. The phone costs from £12 a
(www.apple.com/uk/iphone/appstore/). safe and secure hotspots around the globe month on a mix and match plan.
18 find
Use WeFi to
hotspots
WeFi is a useful community-driven tool
connect to one if you prefer. If you
connect to an unrecognised hotspot
you’ll be able to map it for the benefit of
PROGRAMS
Program Price Website
for finding and verifying hotspots. When other members. WeFi Free www.wefi.com
you run the software it will search for See also:
19 work
Choose the right net-
any wireless connections in range and MyHotspotter Free www.trustive.com
provide you with the necessary details. location in Vista Netprofiles Free http://netprofiles.danielmilner.com
If you’re not currently online it will When you connect to a new wireless NetStumbler Free www.netstumbler.com
automatically connect you to the network for the first time using Vista, WirelessKeyView Free http://tinyurl.com/am3nh9
strongest and safest choice – you can the Network Discovery feature will ask Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector Free www.xirrus.com/library/
turn this feature off and just manually you whether it’s a Home, Work or Public wifitools.php
69
▲

U&R1 Upgrade your Wi-Fi network:PCE65 pp 17/6/09 10:34 Page 76
PERIPHERALS AND GADGETS
Upgrade your
Wi-Fi network
David Nield explains how you can get extra performance from
your home network with some additional hardware
W hen broadband was first introduced, the

idea of connecting up more than one
computer to it seemed unthinkable. In fact, most
place, explaining the hardware you’re going to
need and the different options at each stage.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) forbid users from Types of broadband

sharing their broadband signal around. Today, the There are two types of broadband that you can
situation is completely reversed – your ISP will sign up for in the UK – the most common is ADSL
install broadband in your home with networking (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), which comes
in mind, and will usually supply a combined router through your phoneline, with the signal becoming
and modem so that all of the computers in your weaker the further away your home is from the
house can get connected to the Web. local telephone exchange. The other technology –
HARDWARE GUIDE However, there’s no reason why you have to

leave the standard installation in place. Over the
which can theoretically reach higher speeds – is
cable broadband, but this is only available in areas
next four pages, we’ll explain how you can of the country that can receive cable television,
HARDWARE: connect your various PCs and laptops via wired or usually supplied by Virgin Media (see www.virgin.
Network devices wireless connections, and show you how you can com for more). When choosing a broadband
boost a weak signal to reach all of the areas of supplier, factor in any bundled services (such as
LEVEL:
your home. We’ll also demonstrate how to telephone calls) and examine the terms and
Beginner
improve the speeds on your local network and conditions closely, particularly when it comes to
ON THE WEB: hook up additional devices to share between your download limits. Consumer websites such as
www.thinkbroadband.com computers. We’ll start from the very beginning, in www.thinkbroadband.com and www.broad
case you haven’t yet got your home network in bandchoices.co.uk can prove very helpful here.
Network hardware
At the centre of your network setup will be a router/modem
device that receives the broadband signal coming into your
home and splits it to your various PCs as well as producing a
wireless signal. Routers are now typically provided by your ISP,
but upgrading one is not difficult if you’re looking for extra
speed or features.
Routers built for the consumer market make use of the IEEE
802.11 Wi-Fi standard, defined by the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers. Most routers make use of 802.11g
technology, which has a maximum data rate of 54Mbit/s and an
indoor range of 40 feet. The 802.11n standard, which is still
being drafted, will increase this range to 220 feet, at a data rate
of 248Mbit/s. The 802.11n standard is expected to be
introduced fully in December 2009, though some draft models
are available now.
In addition to the router, you’ll need a wireless adapter on
every PC or laptop you want to connect via Wi-Fi. You can also
invest in devices to boost the Wi-Fi signal as it travels through
your home, while the recent introduction of powerline technology
means that you can also buy adapters for your electrical sockets. Upgrading your router isn’t difficult if you’re after faster speeds
76 Issue 1 Upgrade & Repair PCs

Your router and everything you need to create a home network You should be able to swap out the connections in your existing
1 should’ve been provided by your ISP together with installation
instructions. If you want to introduce new features, faster speeds or a
2 router and replace it with a more powerful device without any
adverse affects. The Netgear Wireless-N Modem Router shown here
greater range to your home network, upgrading the necessary offers up to 15 times the transfer speed and 5 times the wireless
hardware isn’t a difficult process. range of a standard 802.11g router.
Whenever you’re replacing hardware, it’s important to check with Round the back of your new router you should find all of the ports
3 your ISP first. Community forums on the Web are a great place to get
started – on the Sky Broadband forums, for example, you can read
4 you need. This DGN2000 model offers the standard four Ethernet
ports as well as two wireless antennas to improve the Wi-Fi range. The
threads posted by other users about different routers and devices pale blue port on the left hand side is the one to connect up to your
that have been tested. telephone socket.
One of the most popular ways of upgrading your network is to turn it If you already have a router and network in place, adding PowerLine
5 all or part of it into a PowerLine network. PowerLine adapters, like the
Netgear model shown here, can stream Internet feeds around the
6 adapters to the mix is truly plug-and-play – there’s no software to
install or setup configurations to go through. The adapters simply act
home through your existing plug sockets without affecting any of as an extension for your Ethernet cables, and plug into available
your existing devices. sockets as shown.
Upgrade & Repair PCs Issue 1 77

Run an Ethernet cable from a spare port on your router to the newly At the other end of the connection you’ll need another Ethernet cable
7 fitted PowerLine adapter and the Internet connection will be sent
round to the other power sockets in your home. You can then plug in
8 – you can then connect up a networked device or attach a laptop or
another PC to communicate with the router. More and more devices
another adapter in another room to take advantage of your newly are now being built with a network socket built in, such as the Canon
extended network. MFD shown here.
The Linksys adapter shown in this picture takes a slightly different The process is the same at the other end, though on your second
9 approach. Unlike the small adapters we looked at earlier, these
devices act as mini routers, though the principles are just the same. To
10 adapter the Ethernet cable runs to your laptop or network device
rather than your router. The Linksys hardware takes care of all the
get started, attach your first adapter to your router, and then plug it bandwidth sharing, and you can connect up to four devices in every
into a spare mains socket. room where an adapter is installed.
Modern motherboards now come with a suitable network socket Wi-Fi standards are improving all the time, and today’s laptops,
11 built in, and wired connections are the fastest and most stable way of
connecting up the devices on your network. They also communicate
12 netbooks and even mobile phones come with Wi-Fi connectivity. You
can buy external adapters if you wish to, such as this Netgear USB
directly with your router, so you won’t usually have to enter a security device, which usually offer a better way of connecting to weak signals
password. and faster transfer speeds.
78 Issue 1 Upgrade & Repair PCs

You shouldn’t have any difficulty configuring Windows to work with The Manage Wireless Networks section of Control Panel is the place to
13 your network, as Microsoft has slowly and surely improved home
network support in its operating system. Your router should appear in
14 turn to if your Wi-Fi network isn’t being detected automatically. Click
Adapter properties to see information about the installed Wi-Fi
the Network section of the Computer screen, and you can right-click adapters, or the Add button on the left to look for and connect to
to access further options. available wireless networks.
If you live close to your neighbours, you’ll probably be able to pick You’ll be prompted for the security key or passphrase that you used
15 up several wireless networks – you can see the name of the network
as transmitted by the router together with the strength of the
16 when the network was set up – if you need to check or modify it, you
can do this from any PC or laptop that has a wired connection to the
signal. To join your home network, select the relevant entry and router. Enter the key carefully and then click Connect to start surfing
click Connect. the Web.
The Network and Sharing Centre in Control Panel is the place to go to You can access your router directly through any Web browser by
17 if you need to customise any aspect of your network’s configuration
or if you’re having trouble getting connected. Click View computers
18 entering the appropriate IP address – you should be able to find this
in the router’s Properties screen or in the user manual that came with
and devices to see a screen showing all of the devices that are visible the hardware. From here you can change the security setup and other
on the network. router settings.
Upgrade & Repair PCs Issue 1 79

Networking BC:Layout 1 9/9/09 14:32 Page 1
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Dependable advice &

Magnesium Media Ltd

Telephone: 01625 855036

6 Set up a home Wi-Fi network

Networking and Windows

12 Connect to a network in Vista

14 Network your home PCs in XP

21 Tech talk: Internet firewalls

24 20 tips: Manage your Wi-Fi network

28 Upgrade your Wi-Fi network

powerline and wireless PCs in

H ome networking has come on leaps and

Unpacking the D-Link Wireless N Starter Kit

Finding the right ISP

mains adaptor, you can run another wired

Secure your wi-fi connection

The Network and Sharing Centre

INTERNET & EMAIL

88 The Ultimate Windows Vista Handbook PC Explorer Essentials Series

INTERNET & EMAIL

PC Explorer Essentials Series The Ultimate Windows Vista Handbook 89

Protecting your network

Secure your Wi-Fi network to

112 The Essential Windows XP Handbook

You can add a PC to a wireless network in just a couple of clicks

The Essential Windows XP Handbook 113

5 This particular wireless modem comes with a USB adaptor. To get it

114 The Essential Windows XP Handbook

The Essential Windows XP Handbook 115

I owns the Internet. While this is true

issue 105 www.pc-utilities.co.uk

212.58.253.67 doesn’t make as much

How do search engines work?

www.pc-utilities.co.uk issue 105

How does email work?

The receiver uses this information to

▲ Domain names must

Useful links extremely unlikely we’ll ever run out

issue 105 www.pc-utilities.co.uk

T things to keep your computer

▲ One of the best known

▲ Most firewalls will

expecting it within a set time frame, it

packets at the application level (layer

I one up is relatively straightforward. There are two

www.pc-utilities.co.uk issue 111

4 SECURE YOUR NETWORK

1 browser window and log into your router

issue 111 www.pc-utilities.co.uk

WirelessKeyView. This pulls up any keys

13 FIND WIRELESS HOTSPOTS

1 (www.jiwire.com) has data for 200,000 global

www.pc-utilities.co.uk issue 111

17 STREAM MEDIA WIRELESSLY

1 11. Launch the player and click the arrow under

▲ Vista’s Network connection. If you select either of the

issue 111 www.pc-utilities.co.uk

PERIPHERALS AND GADGETS

W hen broadband was first introduced, the

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) forbid users from Types of broadband

HARDWARE GUIDE However, there’s no reason why you have to

76 Issue 1 Upgrade & Repair PCs