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How do I connect my Mac to a WPA Wireless network?

Hello, I'm using a Linksys WRT54GS Router to connect my G4 Mac PowerBook w/ OSX 10.4.2 to the Web, and it's working great. However, I created a closed WPA network internally with Airport and now I can't seem to change the security setting without losing that WPA signal. This WPA network is all the router/Powerbook recognizes, and I can't lower the setting for friends with WiFi laptops. I know my SSID and lil' password but not the WPA. So where or how can I change the security setting with Airport? Or is it permanent?

Dave's Answer:

My colleague Chris Buechler and I went back and forth trying to figure out exactly what you're asking, and here's what Chris finally came up with: If I understand your question, it sounds like you have configured WPA on your Linksys wireless access point and your Powerbook, but you're not sure about your WPA Pre-Shared Key.

WiFi Protected Access, WPA, is an encryption standard for wireless networks, and is currently the most common standards-based strong encryption for wireless networks. The WEP protocol, Wired Equivalent Privacy, was the original encryption protocol designed for WiFi networks which WPA was designed to replace due to insecurities discovered in WEP.

The problem with any type of wireless network encryption is the relative difficulty of getting machines connected to the network. This is one reason the vast majority of wireless networks, especially home and small business wireless networks, do not employ any type of protection. It can be difficult to get your own machines configured properly, much less visitors' laptops.

To change your WPA Shared Key, log into your Linksys, click the Wireless tab, and click Wireless Security. There you will see a box labeled WPA Shared Key. Change it there, make note of what it is, and click Save Settings. You can then enter this key into your Powerbook, and subsequently any visitors' laptops.

On your typical small office/home office grade wireless access points, you cannot configure multiple wireless networks on a single device (most enterprise class access points do permit this, though at a much higher cost). Each wireless network can either use WEP, WPA, or no protection. That is, you cannot use WPA on your laptop, and still connect visitors' laptops to an open network.

Unfortunately there is no easy solution. You can try to use WPA on all visitor laptops, and if they're running OS X or Windows XP, that should not be much of an issue. With older laptops, that might not be feasible. You could disable WPA while you have visitors and enable it at all other times. There are alternatives that allow you to run a second, open wireless network segregated from the rest of your network and protect it through other means, but are well beyond the scope of this answer and difficult at best for someone without a decent amount of networking knowledge.

For more information about safe wireless network use, you'll want to check out our Connect Safely Wireless Security and Privacy Guide.

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Comments

Hi Dave.

I have the same problem, but as I'm a newbie maybe I just don't understand the answer, so please let me clarify.

I also have a WPA-key for my wireless network which linksys creates automatically, but when I bring home my work iMac, AirPort can't seem log on. When I turn on Airport Exress, and try logging in the key (asks for password) under 40-hex, 40-ascii, 128-hex or 128-ascii, or LEAP, it didn't work and can't seem to log onto the network. Are Mac's just not compatible with WPA keys? (I have OSX Tiger loaded on my iMac)

Please help, if you can.

Posted by: naila at January 12, 2006 8:44 PM

Apple hides the option for entering the key. See this for help: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108093-en

Posted by: anonymous at July 27, 2006 10:35 PM

hey there, im currently using the internet on my brothers pc which is connected to a wireless router, I have a mini mac upstairs and id like to connect it to the same router and was wondering how and what hardware i would need to buy to do this, sorry if this is a silly question :-)

Posted by: Peter Woods at October 3, 2006 2:18 PM

All this is correct BUT (far as I know) you need to be running OS X 10.3 (tiger) or above AND airport extreme equipment (i.e. an extreme network card rather than one of the older types) to use WPA.

Posted by: Euan at October 13, 2006 4:38 AM

Hi dave

Ihave i PB G4 1.76 15"

when i try to connecto to wirless network to my job (WEP)
say my that i Cant connect to network :/
i put the right pass etc.
if i try a wireless network without WEP and any secirity i cant logon

have u any idea why ?

Posted by: Philip Gavrilos at April 14, 2007 5:45 AM

I have wireless network on my college, however, I can not connect my ibook g4 to it, I have tried some other networks and it works.....I have contacted the administrator of the network to assist but he can't do anything because apple doen't have some Microsoft script or something like that to authorise the computer to the network, I know this is a silly q but I am really neew to this, help please

Posted by: auditt at August 6, 2007 2:28 AM

Hi dave,
I want my mac laptop to connect to office wireless network, but when i select the the network it asks for password (40-hex, 40-ascii, 128-hex or 128-ascii, or LEAP).
It doesn't take any simple or complex password(WPA keys) under any of above catagory.
sometime it ask for correct password or some time it says "error joining selected network"

What do i do to connect my mac to wireless network ?
please halp !!!

Posted by: shiv at August 24, 2007 4:44 AM

Hi, actually i do have the same trouble, my router uses a wep key that i configured my self and it doesn´t seem to work on the mac, i´ve tried to open the wireless connection, change it to wpa and nothing could you pls help me, i just got my mac and i can´t even get connected through ethernet, thanks

Posted by: Michele at August 8, 2008 5:51 PM

Dave,
I have a broad question RE: internet commerce and privacy; How do you feel about the use of "Web Beacons" to collect/track personal website behavior. How is a "Beacon" different from a cookie and would its use preclude you from involving yourself with a company/service provider?
Thank you,
JL

Posted by: Joe Lund at February 21, 2009 7:41 PM

Hi Dave,
I have been on the linksys network for over two years on my wireless dell laptop. Recently the linksys network disappeared from my available networks. How can I get it back so that I can connect to it.
Thanks,
B

Posted by: barbara at March 4, 2009 8:57 AM

Hi Dave - I have a MacBook laptop, OS X, 10.5.6 I brought my laptop to work (3 blocks from my apt.) and I wanted to get onto the internet. I found a couple of wireless networks using my built in AirPort that did not require a password. The connections are unreliable and slow, and probably not secure, (it doesnt matter because I'm not doing my banking or anything - just surfing), but I got onto the internet.

Once home, I'm unable to find any none-password networks and can't seem to get back on the ones I found at work. Isn't there such a thing as "free wifi"? E.g. at Starbucks, etc. Where and how can I find a free network? Or, where and how can I find out network passwords (I don't want to invade anyone's privacy - just want to keep myself entertained at a boring job!) Also, how can I create MY OWN network? Even if it's unsecure, I'd like to be able to unplug my ethernet cable at home and bring the laptop into other rooms.

I'm not a techie, so forgive me if I sound naive. I hope you can help! Thank you! - Julie

Posted by: Julie at July 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Great question, Julie. The short answer is "wifi networks only range about 150 feet at best, so your neighbors just don't have wifi". The long answer? I've written a new blog post on this subject and will publish it later in the week. :-)

Posted by: Dave Taylor at July 20, 2009 4:42 PM

If you have not connected I found that I had to change the "location of my network to "Home-Wireless" then automatic it found my wireless access point , aked for the passcode I use WEP and it connected no problem

Cheers

Drew

Posted by: Drew at September 13, 2009 8:11 AM

I want to purchase a Mac but I have one question. I stay on an apartment complex that provides free wireless but the connection isn't secure. Could I still use the Mac OS X and still feel comfortable using it for online shopping?

Posted by: T.J. at October 4, 2009 4:28 PM

TJ, whether you're running a Mac or PC, it's the same situation: the question is whether the site you're visiting is secure or not. Always look for "https:" addresses once you've started adding material to your shopping cart and when you're checking out. Also, since you're on an open public network, make sure you've "battened down the hatches" on your computer, turning off all file and service sharing and so on. I have lots of articles on how to do that here on the site. Good luck.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at October 5, 2009 8:31 AM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!