WTR54G Possible Compromise

Question

Could anyone answer this for me.  I changed the default name of the router, used WAP security with a very complex word number combination to generate the SSID, and enabled MAC Address filtering to allow only my laptop to access the network.  All of a sudden I was unable to access the network or the internet from my laptop.  No matter what I did, the wireless network could not be found.
I went into the properties of the router and changed the security word and saved the settings and everything worked fine.
Does this mean my system was hacked?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Answer 1

Well, once you are connected to your wireless network, there is profile(wireless network profile) that is saved/stored automatically to allow you to connect when you perform a reboot...You don't have to enter any of your network credentials anymore and you stay connected to your wireless network...If you get disconnected from your wireless network(maybe whatever reason) and you attempt to re-connect to your wireless network then you can no longer connect to it unless you remove your network profile that was origially stored when you first connected to your wireless network...Once the wireless network profile is removed you can select your SSID, press connect, re-enter your network key andit connects, that's how it works...
However, when you changed the SSID your laptop thought that was a new wireless network and that's why it connected to the new SSID without any problems...
Next time if you face the same problem please do this - 
For XP : 
Click on Start and goto the Control Panel and double click on Network Connections, right click on Wireless Network Connection and click on Properties.
Now on this window, click on the second tab Wireless Network and give a check mark on "Use windows to configure my wireless" and then remove all the network names present in the Preferred Networks Window. Then click on OK...
Right click on the Wireless Network Connection again and click on View Available Wireless Networks and try to re-connect to your network...
Now it will give you the opportunity to put the network/wep key, make sure you enter the correct network key and confirm it...
It will connect...
For Vista :
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Network and Sharing Center >> Manage Wireless Networks, here remove all the networks present and close the Window...
Click on Connect to a Network and try to re-connect to your Network, it should ask for your Network Key/Password, enter the correct password/network key and click Connect...
It should connect...Once you are connected you should restart the computer, it should connect to Internet...