05-04-2012, 06:50 PM

Hello, I am using the computer of a deceased relative and I want to find out if the computer is protected with an internet password. I don't want the bandwith available to neighbors. I am not a techie. The "AirPort" says "turn AirPort off" which I guess means it's on. Does this mean I am password protected? Can anyone give me some feedback? Thanks!

05-04-2012, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by SeaSide_369

I don't want the bandwith available to neighbors.

The computer does not control any "bandwidth"...access to your home network is controlled by your homes router...and there's no worries of your neighbors "leeching" your bandwidth unless it's a wireless router.

Thus what you need to do is figure out if your wireless router (if this is what you have) has a password to protect your home network. The deceased relatives computer has nothing to do with this.

- Nick

05-04-2012, 07:10 PM

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The computer does have a wireless router. What do I do next?

05-04-2012, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by SeaSide_369

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The computer does have a wireless router. What do I do next?

Your computer does not have a wireless router...no computer has a built-in wireless router.

The router (or wireless router) is a separate piece of technology/hardware...located somewhere in your residence. If you do not have a wireless router...then you will have no wireless signal for the Airport hardware in this computer to detect.

If this is still confusing...I would recommend reading up on basic home computer networking:

A Typical Computer Networking Setup - For Dummies

- Nick

05-04-2012, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by SeaSide_369

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The computer does have a wireless router. What do I do next?

Open System Preferences on that machine. Select "Network" and you should see a dialog box with a green dot in the slot that says "Wi-Fi Connected". Highlight "Wi-Fi Connected" and write down the Network Name. Now select the tab at the bottom that says "advanced".

Select the "Wi-Fi" tab. The network name will show up in the box along with the type of security (if any) that is currently being used.

Post back and let us know and we can go from there.

05-04-2012, 11:40 PM

Okay, I meant that the house does have a wireless router. It is hooked up to a computer that crashed. About to try chscag's advice.

05-05-2012, 01:58 PM

Okay, I followed the directions, and it says the name of the deceased relative and says it has no security. Also, the wireless router is hooked up to a computer that has crashed, not the one I'm trying to get security on. What do I do now?

05-05-2012, 02:04 PM

Is your Mac from your relative on the internet? If so, how is it connected to your home router? Plugged in or Wireless?

05-05-2012, 02:34 PM

It is wireless. And the wireless router is hooked up to a computer that has crashed. But there are two computers in the house, and I am sending this from the one that works.

05-05-2012, 09:22 PM

Follow up: I created a WPA password, and I thought this would make my WiFi secure. To test it, I tried accessing my WiFi from my Smart phone. My Smart phone was able to get a signal from my network. Why was the Smart phone able to get a signal now that I have a WPA password??

05-05-2012, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by SeaSide_369

Follow up: I created a WPA password, and I thought this would make my WiFi secure. To test it, I tried accessing my WiFi from my Smart phone. My Smart phone was able to get a signal from my network. Why was the Smart phone able to get a signal now that I have a WPA password??

When you say "get a signal", do you mean that you have bars showing signal strength or that you are actually connected to your network?

Setting a password doesn't hide your network, it only prevent unauthorized connections.

05-05-2012, 09:40 PM

To add to what Razor said, could you surf the web on that smart phone? Did Internet apps work? Bars mean nothing. Did you put the WPA password into the phone? If not what you are saying is impossible.

What is the brand and model of your router?

05-06-2012, 02:48 AM

What I did was to turn off the data connection to my phone. I then tried the internet and I had no signal. I did this so that when I tried the Wifi I would know where I was getting the connection from (if any). I then turned on the Wifi on my phone and it said it was connected to my network. I was then able to use the web and apps. I did not enter my WPA password into the phone. Why did the Wifi work now that I have a WPA password?

My router is a Lynksis.

05-06-2012, 02:53 AM

What model Linksys? Something is wrong as you can not join and use a WPA or WPA2 network without putting in the key.

05-07-2012, 02:26 PM

It's a Linksys wireless-G 2.4. I don't know why the computer allowed me to create a WPA password. Like I mentioned before, the wireless router is not attached to this computer. It's connected to a computer that crashed. Could that have something to do with it? I wonder if I should just take off the wireless router all together. I don't use a laptop. I don't need a wireless router, right? I just hope I could hook up the functioning computer so that it works without the router, as I am not a techie.