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YOU PROBABLY NEVER thought of doing it, but it’s a good idea to change your WiFi or modem password whenever you get the chance.
Many of us opt for the default password, which may seem fine considering their length, but it isn’t the most secure method.
As a rule, the default password is usually made up of numbers and letters which can be bypassed if someone was to put in enough effort into it, and the last thing you need is your connection being slow because someone’s freeloading on it.
Because it’s a password you won’t be entering often (compared to your Facebook profile, for example), it’s better to change it to something long and complex, using symbols on top of letters and numbers, so it’s difficult to crack.
So here’s how you can change it.
1) Connect to your WiFi modem and open up admin
If you’re using Eircom, type in 192.168.1.254 into your browser’s address bar.
If you’re using UPC, type in 192.168.1.1 into your browser’s address bar.
If you’re using Sky, type in 192.168.0.1 into your browser’s address bar.
2) Enter in your username and password (if prompted)
For UPC, the default is you leave the username and password blank, while for Sky, it’s username ‘admin’ and password ‘sky’. Eircom allows you to log in automatically.
3) When you’re logged in, search for privacy settings
For Eircom users, go to 3D Wireless > Advanced Configuration Options
For UPC users, it’s found under Setup/Wireless and look for (WPA) Pre-shared key.
For Sky users, go to Useful settings > Change Wireless Password (the password you’re asked to enter is the same as before).
4) Find password and change it
Make sure it’s a complex one and write it down. Eircom will generate a new one for you once you enter in a new passphrase.
5) Write your new password down before you save changes
And that’s it. The modem will reset and everyone will be required to connect to your WiFi again using the new password.
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Good article. Any chance you would do one telling me how to hack into my neighbours wi-fi ?
Wireshark
JOURNAL… the bloody article is sponsored by Vodafone yet no information in the article for Vodafone WiFi customers… C’mon, sort it out lads and ladies! Cheers.
What a great bit of information may I say, thanks.
What about Vodafone….I’m too lazy to google!
This has me a little confused too, the article was sponsored by Vodafone yet it doesn’t say how to access their modems.. I’m pretty sure my partner tried and had no luck..
Call this news? Twink’s dog has gone missing, don’t you know.
Had to change mine as the neighbours were using our broadband !!!!!!
Yeah, sorry about that Paul. Things haven’t been easy for us the last while…
There are still old eircom netopia boxes that have the 128bit WEP Keys. Just Google them for the ‘hole’ story there.
Poor dictionary based WPA-PSK passwords are easily crackable as well.
WPA passwords on a certain personal wifi dongle has also been broken when capturing the 4way handshake. That company left the keys as whole numbers ranging from 100000 to 9999999. Took an i7 a few hours to brute force.
WPS is not secure either.
While you’re at it change your WiFi ISID to something more logical, funny or familiar. Also learn how to change channel so you create less signal interference, using channel 1, 6 or 11 is ideal as they don’t overlap. Download inSSider 3 (free on PC) to see all the WiFi signals within your environment.
If you’re using another router and don’t know what it’s address is – On windows, open your command prompt and type ipconfig. Look for the default gateway for the ip address of your router. On linux, type “route show” in your command line and look for “default via” for the ip address of your router.
Most common combinations if it asks you for a username/password are – admin/admin admin/no password / admin/password
Then go to the wireless tab. Bam.
UPC needs a username and password.
Just leave it blank as the article says. Your not required to enter it.
UPC does not require a username and password. When you get to the page requesting them, just click ‘log in’ and leave the fields blank. Once you are logged in you can then set a username and password or leave them blank.
Nope, I must be special.
It would appear so
Try admin and admin
Sweet!
Cheers.
The guy in the photo has great taste with all the Apple gear!
Duh
Is this native advertising? If so it’s the biggest lie I’ve seen yet.
Pfffft I already knew how to do this *smugface*
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