Hi I have a windows xp based computer with a belkin pre-n notebook wireless card. My father has a mac with a new airport router. I can connect to his wireless internet as long as its open. However whenever there is a security enabled password it will not connect. I've checked the password multiple times. Any ideas? Also I was wondering if theres a way to secure your computer from people trying to access your computer through an open wireless network? I know its a lot but I hope you guys can provide some answers.

The only security I use on my small local WiFi network is by manually assigning IP addresses (no DHCP) and using an odd and obscure subnet. Anybody trying to connect to the wireless router has to "guess" the router's IP address and netmask and then assign their WiFi adapter a correct IP address out of the thousands of possibilities within NAT IP address blocks. Now, someone who really understands IP addressing and has the other skills could write a script which would basically step through those thousands of possible combinations of IP addresses and Netmasks, trying to connect with each combination until the router responded. But, there's nobody within range of the router with that knowledge and skill, the people around me really don't even understand the relation between an IP address and a netmask. Besides, I don't keep sensitive or valuable data on any of the computers on the network, so it's not even a worthwhile target for someone who had the skills. It's sufficient security in my situation to prevent local people from using my Internet connection illegally.

pyrolitic I hate to tell you this but you have no wireless security. With my laptop I can grab and analyze your wireless transmissions which will easily reveal your ip address, machine name and user account info. Basically anything you transmit in the open someone can read. You aren't concerned about those around you. How about the guy in a car parked out front??? Enable wpa or wpa2 and encrypt your wireless transmission. Then you will be secure. PancakeMan you have to match password AND encryption level. In other words you can't be doing wep and the airport does wpa. You need to match the security protocol. Then your password will work. A one sentence question will result in a one sentence answer.

wanderer- At least read the response if your going to accuse someone of being an idiot. I stated very clearly that someone who has the skills and knowledge can break into such a scheme. The time and effort required to intrepret a non-standard network through traffic anaylsis is not as trivial as you make it sound. Someone "out front" in their car would look pretty stupid parked on a country road in the middle of nowhere playing with their laptop, just a "bit" conspicuous to the people living here. Why would someone who was knowledgeable enough and invested in the necessary tools go roaming around the countryside doing traffic analysis on random private WiFi networks?

Well I know the Mac Airport is WPA/WPA 2 Personal but how do i tell what my wireless card is set to? I have tried a lot of different things but none has really worked.

Most likely that belkin pre-n notebook wireless card will support WPA/WPA2 encryption. Go to Belkin website to get more info of your wierless card. In addition, you can also take a look on this wireless network security article to secure wireless network.