Network security on Sky routers

Anonymouse · 16-06-2012, 17:00

My sister has Sky broadband, but apparently it doesn't support WPA-PSK2, or possibly her laptop doesn't. I'm not too happy with the notion of using WPA-PSK. Help!

BenMcr · 16-06-2012, 17:07

WPA-PSK is fine for residential services. The one that isn't really secure anymore is WEP

Tezcatlipoca · 16-06-2012, 17:08

My Sky router supports WPA-PSK2.

Which model does your sister have?

BenMcr · 16-06-2012, 17:20

Just to be pedantic it's WPA2-PSK

Anonymouse · 16-06-2012, 17:39

Oops, so it is.

As to the router, it's a Sagem, or whatever. I would ask the notebook about its network adapter, but as it's running Windows 7 and Microsoft still thinks its users haven't a clue, it doesn't seem to want to tell me. I tried Devices and Printers, but this is clearly not the equivalent of the System Devices and Properties tab in older versions of Windows - all it would tell me was that it's a Packard Bell notebook.

<annoyed>Um, I already know that, you condescending piece of...</annoyed>

Is it just me, or is Windows taking even more control away from the user? Aren't there too many layers of abstraction already?!

Ooh, I miss the old days, when you knew exactly what was going on and you could tweak it to make it work better!

BenMcr · 16-06-2012, 17:41

Windows 7 shows exactly the same as Vista and XP does, but it depends on what you want to see as to where you need to go for it. If you want the Device Manager, right click on 'Computer' in the Start Menu and / or Desktop and click on 'Manage'

thenry · 16-06-2012, 17:44

the old sky routers are crap and hackable. call in and get it replaced. not sure why Sky haven't pushed a firmware update to sort the well known issue

Tezcatlipoca · 16-06-2012, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Just to be pedantic it's WPA2-PSK

Good point!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anonymouse

Oops, so it is.

As to the router, it's a Sagem, or whatever. I would ask the notebook about its network adapter, but as it's running Windows 7 and Microsoft still thinks its users haven't a clue, it doesn't seem to want to tell me. I tried Devices and Printers, but this is clearly not the equivalent of the System Devices and Properties tab in older versions of Windows - all it would tell me was that it's a Packard Bell notebook.

<annoyed>Um, I already know that, you condescending piece of...</annoyed>

Is it just me, or is Windows taking even more control away from the user? Aren't there too many layers of abstraction already?!

Ooh, I miss the old days, when you knew exactly what was going on and you could tweak it to make it work better!

Sky has two Sagem routers:

The older Sky V2 Sagem F@ST2504 (black) and the newer (Wireless N) Sky Sagem F@ST2504n (black/silver).

The Wireless N router definitely supports WPA2, as I'm using it with that right now.

I'm not sure about the previous Sagem, but I would have thought that it did support it. AFAIK, only the older Netgear routers didn't have WPA2.

Log in to the router via http://192.168.0.1 (default username is "admin", default password is "sky" - CHANGE THESE!). Under "Setup > Wireless Settings" it will show the available "Security Options". If WPA2-PSK is supported, it will be listed there along with WEP and WPA-PSK.

pabscars · 16-06-2012, 18:25

I can confirm the older Sagemcom routers only supported WEP, a work colleague of mine has just replaced his because I told him WEP was easily hackable these days, all the newer F@st2504n support WPA2.

MattD can you please educate me into the reason for changing the log in details for the router, don't you already have to be on the network in order to log in anyway? I understand if you want to keep the kids away from any parental controls you may have set but from a security perspective is there much point.

Tezcatlipoca · 16-06-2012, 20:25

Only WEP? Surely it would have at least supported WPA as well? The ancient Netgears Sky used to use supported WPA.

Router admin... It's something I've always seen recommended, for any router not just Sky.

pabscars · 16-06-2012, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Only WEP? Surely it would have at least supported WPA as well? The ancient Netgears Sky used to use supported WPA.

Router admin... It's something I've always seen recommended, for any router not just Sky.

You might be right Matt but it was quite an old unit, I just remember him saying he could only have WEP, and didnt see for my own eyes.

qasdfdsaq · 16-06-2012, 22:40

WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK are equally secure, WPA2 is just faster. The only real difference is AES is optional in WPA1 and mandatory in WPA2.

What the problem really is is TKIP, and even WPA-TKIP isn't nearly as bad as WEP.

Anonymouse · 18-06-2012, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Sky has two Sagem routers:

The older Sky V2 Sagem F@ST2504 (black)

It's the black one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Log in to the router via http://192.168.0.1 (default username is "admin", default password is "sky" - CHANGE THESE!). Under "Setup > Wireless Settings" it will show the available "Security Options". If WPA2-PSK is supported, it will be listed there along with WEP and WPA-PSK.

Thanks, Matt, I'll look into that when I see my sister this weekend. The next job is to get her printer to talk to the notebook...never an easy task, in my experience.