Try using "MAC ADDRESS FILTERING".

You can limit access to the router by entering the unique code every computer or wireless device has. it's called the "MAC address". This way, no other device can access your wifi except for the specific devices you've enabled, and you can forget about passwords. The "authorised" devices can access the router freely, without passwords. Everybody else just gets blocked.

I'm not sure of the detail of how to do this on your router, but ours has this feature. Ours has a list of all the MAC addresses currently connected, so you can just copy them and put them in the filter list, and after you turn on the filter nobody can access it but those specific computers or mobile phones you've put on the list.

To authorise another device, briefly disable the filtering, allow the new device to connect, copy its MAC address and put it into the list, then re-enable the filtering.

No

I am talking about the hard coded access number displayed on the back of the router. This is totally different from any password you can choose as part of your settings.

If you don't know someones password but have access to the router you can connet via wifi using this code as it is considered that if you have access to this you could simply use a cable.

yes - that's what I changed


isn't it

lynnxa

Just making the point that if any of the people you mention get the code from the back of the router thay can gain access without your chosen code.

so they can use the old code to get to the new one?

So why not just delete/remove the code from the back of the router and write it down in a place only you know?

The code on the back of the router is just the factory shipped wifi wep/wpa code. If you connect to the router and change it - it's changed. The one on the back of the box WONT work anymore.

thanks - that's what I thought/hoped

It's just the password that Telefonica set up the router with.

They didn't used to put any password in at all which is why there used to be so many problems with people having access.

There is another code - the MAC ID which you cannot change which identifies the actual router. It was that info that Google was picking up with their Streetview cars. They use that and the recorded location to help locate devices such as Ipods and iPads that don't have GPS.

Yes a solution could be to obliterate the code shown on the back.

Fred
What you said started me doubting the things I have said so I have tested it.

My password has been changed at least 3 tmes over time to something easy to remember whilst being impossible to guess.

My neighbour has a laptop he uses with a mobile dongle or at open hotspots. I asked him to connect to my wifi signal. Sure enough it asked for a password, I keyed in the code from the back of my router (a long string of mixed letters & numbers) and the connection was made and worked as it should.

Try it

so why wouldn't my daughter's laptop connect with the old code?

ALL of your problems will be solved if you have MAC address filtering as I outlined above.

NOBODY but the computers/mobiles/or pads you authorise can access it. ALL without and goofy passwords that are easily given to others.

Also, be sure to disable WEP or WPA (the password stuff).

Don't do this. Anyone that knows what they're doing can pull your MAC from the air and MAC spoofing is easy enough with readily available software.

I reckon you're right. The CIA and MI6 is always sitting outside my house. I figure it's the same for everyone in Spain.

I stand corrected.

get a non telefonica router (eg Netgear or cheapo tplinks) and use whatever password you want, and so no issues with others hooking up using the telefonica wireless password they have given the box.
first thing i did when i got to spain was use my own router rather than the crappy one telefonica dished out.
although they are easy to set up, now just plug and play, whereas others require you to manually set them up with dns etc settings.... which can frighten people.