Router security help needed (WRT54GS)

[Sweed]

Having a security issue with my wrt54gw router. Situation is I had the security set to WEP. My wife wasn't connecting to the net and her laptop puts up a map of wireless connections she is getting. Closest one came back unsecured and with default lynksys name. Didn't think it was ours as it is (or so I thought) secured and had it's own unique SSID name.


Long story short went online to my router's settings page and the name was back to lynksys with security mode disabled. Changed the name back to our unique SSID name and her computer connected. However if I try to turn WEP back on it says "WEP" for less than a second and goes back to "disabled".


I'm going to unplug my modem and router and see if a reset fixes it. I did try this earlier when she first couldn't connect but not since resetting the router name and password.

FWIW I did also try closing my browser and signing back into the router sight to see if that might reset something. No luck.


Anyway looking for any input as to what is going on and how I might fix it.


Thanks.

[PilotMan]

Routers are cheap, get one that works.

I know that wasn't much help, but it's all I've got.

[Sweed]

Ok, while I was sitting here I had the idea to try changing the settings using IE instead of firefox. Voila it worked.

Some setting in firefox that would prevent me from making changes? I do use no-script but the router sight it set to full permissions.

Still wondering though what happened to make the settings and name change to start with? Hacker, some glitch, other?

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Routers are cheap, get one that works.

I know that wasn't much help, but it's all I've got.

Thanks that was one of my thoughts.

We were posting at the same time

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Sweed

Ok, while I was sitting here I had the idea to try changing the settings using IE instead of firefox. Voila it worked.

Some setting in firefox that would prevent me from making changes? I do use no-script but the router sight it set to full permissions.

Still wondering though what happened to make the settings and name change to start with? Hacker, some glitch, other?

You could have a flaky router that is resetting to factory default for some reason. Before you assume that, you can try a few other things such as what you did.

One concern would be if you have an infected computer. There are some worms that infect people's systems that take advantage of people who don't change the default admin password on their linksys. If yours is constantly having the wireless change, you can see if that might be part of your issue. From a wired (not wireless) computer, login and change your admin password to a non-default. It also helps changing your address scheme, but I'm not aware of that mattering with the currently known worms out there.

If your router resets back to factory default (including your admin password changing back to default) something is likely up with the device itself.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Ping: Router Help

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Alan T

You could have a flaky router that is resetting to factory default for some reason. Before you assume that, you can try a few other things such as what you did.

One concern would be if you have an infected computer. There are some worms that infect people's systems that take advantage of people who don't change the default admin password on their linksys. If yours is constantly having the wireless change, you can see if that might be part of your issue. From a wired (not wireless) computer, login and change your admin password to a non-default. It also helps changing your address scheme, but I'm not aware of that mattering with the currently known worms out there.

If your router resets back to factory default (including your admin password changing back to default) something is likely up with the device itself.

Thanks for your advice.

I use the latest Norton and am always up to date on their virus definitions. Not to say something can't get through as it has been one of my fears since this came up.

I did change the password tonight from my desktop. It is wired in and is the only computer used to make any router setting changes. My wife, and kids when they are home, all use wireless laptops but never have been to the router sight.

After tonight I'll be watching this closely making sure things stay as they should.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Ping: Router Help

fofc rules!

It's nice to be able to come to a place for reliable advice with a membership that is ready, willing, and usually able to help. I never take it for granted and am very grateful to be a part of fofc.