Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geek Speak => Topic started by: stana on 16/01/2008 17:55:01

Title: Which is higher potection?
Post by: stana on 16/01/2008 17:55:01

Hey guys, just setting up my wireless AGAIN, and ive been given the question(s)

What encryption would you like?

64bit Hexidecimal
64bit Alphanumeric

128bit Hexidecimal
128bit Alphanmeric

Highest/Stronest/Most Unbreakable option? 


ALSO

Ive forgotten my mams password for her router..and i cant access it, is there a way around this? or wil i have to call my router supplier and ask them to tell me my password?

Thanks

Title: Which is higher potection?
Post by: another_someone on 16/01/2008 18:08:01

Whether it is hexadecimal or alphanumeric is just about the human interface, and not the underlying protection.

128bit will normally be better than 64bit (will always be better if the same algorithm is used, but the caveat is because sometimes people compare bit length but don't look at the differences in the underlying algorithm - this is unlikely to be the case where one is looking at the same device for encryption).

If you have the manual for the router, it will tell you what the default password for the router is.  If you (or someone else) has changed the password, so it is no longer the default, then there should be a button on the router somewhere that will reset it back to the default (but it will also reset all the other settings back to the factory defaults, so you will have then to reapply all the changes you made to the router configuration).

If you don't have the manual for the router, then if you know the make and model of the router, you will very possibly be able to find a copy of the manual on the Internet (often on the manufacturers own web site).

Title: Which is higher potection?
Post by: lyner on 16/01/2008 20:01:34

The usual password for a router seems to be blank.
If you have a red button with which to reset it, Robert's your Father's Brother. I had a Belkin without a reset button - it had to go in the bin!

Title: Which is higher potection?
Post by: another_someone on 18/01/2008 03:51:24

Quote from: sophiecentaur on 16/01/2008 20:01:34

I had a Belkin without a reset button - it had to go in the bin!

I have to say that I am very surprised by this.  I am not saying you are wrong, only that I have not come across any router for which this is so (especially from a mainstream producer such as Belkin).

It is certainly true that the reset buttons are often hard to get at, usually being deeply recessed, and needing a pin or other long thin object to get at - this is to prevent accidental activation; but I have myself not yet come across one that did not even have a reset button.