User manual COMPAQ HP MINI 9-2009

[. . . ] HP Mini User Guide © Copyright 2009 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. SD Logo is a trademark of its proprietor. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. [. . . ] Select the Independent controls for installed wireless devices check box, and then click Apply. Click Turn off or Turn on to control each wireless device separately. Using a WLAN With a WLAN device, you can access a wireless local area network (WLAN), which is composed of other devices and accessories that are linked by a wireless router or a wireless access point. NOTE: The terms wireless router and wireless access point are often used interchangeably. A large-scale WLAN, such as a corporate or public WLAN, typically uses wireless access points that can accommodate a large number of devices and accessories and can separate critical network functions. A home or small office WLAN typically uses a wireless router, which allows several wireless and wired devices to share an Internet connection, a printer, and files without requiring additional pieces of hardware or software. Connecting to a wireless network 29 To use the WLAN device in your computer, you must connect to a WLAN infrastructure (provided through a service provider or a public or corporate network). Setting up a WLAN To set up a WLAN and connect to the Internet, you need the following equipment: A broadband modem (either DSL or cable) (1) and high-speed Internet service purchased from an Internet service provider (ISP) A wireless router (purchased separately) (2) The wireless device (3) The illustration below shows an example of a wireless network installation that is connected to the Internet. As your network grows, additional wireless and wired devices can be connected to the network to access the Internet. For help in setting up your WLAN, refer to the information provided by your router manufacturer or your ISP. Protecting your WLAN It is essential to understand that because the WLAN standard was designed with only limited security capabilities--basically to foil casual eavesdropping rather than more powerful forms of attack--WLANs are vulnerable to well-known and well-documented security weaknesses. WLANs in public areas, or "hotspots, " like coffee shops and airports may not provide any security. New technologies are being developed by wireless manufacturers and hotspot service providers that make the public environment more secure and anonymous. If you are concerned about the security of your computer in a hotspot, limit your network activities to noncritical e-mail and basic Internet surfing. When you set up a WLAN or access an existing WLAN, always enable security features to protect your network from unauthorized access. The common security levels are Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)Personal and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). Because wireless radio signals travel outside the network, other WLAN devices can pick up unprotected signals and either connect to your network 30 Chapter 4 Internet (uninvited) or capture information being sent across it. However, you can take precautions to protect your WLAN: Use a wireless transmitter with built-in security Many wireless base stations, gateways, or routers provide built-in security features such as wireless security protocols and firewalls. With the correct wireless transmitter, you can protect your network from the most common wireless security risks. Work behind a firewall A firewall is a barrier that checks both data and requests for data that are sent to your network, and discards any suspicious items. Firewalls are available in many varieties, both software and hardware. Some networks use a combination of both types. Use wireless encryption A variety of sophisticated encryption protocols is available for your WLAN. Find the solution that works best for your network security: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a wireless security protocol that encodes or encrypts all network data before it is transmitted using a WEP key. Usually, you can allow the network to assign the WEP key. Alternatively, you can set up your own key, generate a different key, or choose other advanced options. Without the correct key, others will not be able to use the WLAN. WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), like WEP, uses security settings to encrypt and decrypt data that is transmitted over the network. [. . . ] To exit Setup Utility without changing any settings, use the arrow keys to select Exit > Exit Discarding Changes, and then press enter. Restoring default settings in Setup Utility The following procedure explains how to restore the Setup Utility default settings. If Setup Utility is not already running, begin at step 1. If Setup Utility is already running, begin at step 2. Open Setup Utility by turning on or restarting the computer, and then pressing f10 while the "F10 = BIOS Setup Options" message is displayed in the lower-left corner of the screen. [. . . ]