how do i restrict others from accessing my wireless network ?

[heyyo]

i have a belkin router set up.
pc is connected by ethernet
laptop is wireless

also have another problem with regular disconnections...

[Gareth]

Easiest and most effective way is to use WPA, provided your router and NIC both accept it.

Some people think that you should consider restricting access according to MAC address, and hiding your SSID (which you should always change from the default also) although both of these can be circumvented if someone really wants to access your connection. Personally, I think hiding your SSID is a bad thing, as it can prevent your neighbours who may also have a wireless AP running from being aware of yours, so you might end up both using the same channel to broadcast on, which causes problems.

[Graham M]

RE Regular Disconnections, try upgrading your router's firmware.

I thought on a wireless network, you could use a WEP key ? I think thats right anyways.

I use a 128 bit wep key as my linksys router creates one from a password and I like easy

[Timeless Stew]

I found my neigbours WEP password and then dropped it through their mailbox

Here are the instructions how to:

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2005/0...to_crack_wep_/

wep is 100% insecure
MAC address filtering --don't bother either

WPA (see above) is the way to go.

Well in light of that ive just changed mine to WPA