I have an Ignite modem and a Cisco Linksys E1200 router. After some difficulty I have set up the router successfully so now all 3 of my computers can access internet and I assume so can my phone, I haven't checked yet. But there seems to be a security issue. When I tested it out with my laptop, the laptop automatically connects to the internet. At no time was I asked to enter the password to get onto the network. I just turned on the laptop, and after it loaded the OS, it was automatically on the network. Doesn't this mean that anyone sitting in a car outside my house can get onto my network? I'm concerned about security. I don't want the hassle of having to log in every time I want to use the internet, but that doesn't mean I want to allow anyone outside to get onto my network.
2 computers are desktop and log themselves in to the network automatically. I thought that was because they're connected to the router with ethernet cables so there's no need for it to ask for the password. But for the wifi, how do I make it so I don't have to log in, but anyone without permission, or anyone passing by outside does? In the setup site for the E1200, there's a section for Wireless Security. The only options under that tab are to change the security mode from what it's currently set to - WPA2/WPA Mixed Mode - to something else, and to change the passphrase. If I change that passphrase, will that be a separate wifi passphrase, or will it change the existing ethernet passphrase? Are they the same passphrase? And that won't even solve the problem if it just logs anyone in automatically.
