VPN and Wi-Fi Network

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 16:21:17 -0500, Rene Lamontagne wrote:

You mean I'm behind the times? Oh Dear!!! :-)
Whatever happened to pencils and paper to record your passwords?

Does *Rene Lamontagne* _ever_ post with purposefully helpful intent?
o Never?

Two posts to this thread, & Rene _still_ posted nothing of any value?

Is it even possible that *Rene Lamontagne* "can" _ever_ add value?
o Never?

Please, dear God, tell us that *Rene Lamontagne* isn't _that_ stupid
that he will never even once in his entire life _ever_ post anything of
purposefully helpful technical value to this newsgroup. Please.

*Rene Lamontagne proves, always, to be a worthless piece of *****.
o *Nothing Rene Lamontagne has _ever_ posted, added technical value*.

Nothing. (In the entire history of Usenet!)

Anyway, the OP has been well advised already on how to connect to his
router via either the company laptop or his own laptop.

To provide further purposefully helpful information, to the OP and to
others, & given that VPN is sometimes confusing to first-time users...

One way the OP (or others who read this), can instantly get a feel for what
VPN is like, is to simply download any decent free VPN client and any
matching protocol decent free VPN configuration file.

Before the VPN trolls attack en masse, I will say that people can spend
their entire lives choosing the "best" VPN (client, protocol, service) for
their threat model, where I only suggest the following simple setup because
it's _trivial_ to set up to test out VPN for the first time (if you're
unfamiliar with it & because I use it all the time so I can help out).

1. Download & install any decent free OpenVPN client, for example:
https://www.ovpn.com/en/guides/windows-openvpn-gui
2. Download any decent free openvpn configuration file, for example:
https://www.vpngate.net (download _any_ of the ovpn files there)
3. Point #1 to #2 and, voila!, you're "on VPN".

This post is for more than just the OP, where, if anyone tries this
metehod, I can advise you how to make it so efficient that you can choose,
instantly, between any of over six thousand VPN servers to select from.
--
The VPN trolls are welcome to claim their VPN solution is the best.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 12:35:47 -0500, Rene Lamontagne wrote:

Whatever happened to pencils and paper to record your passwords?
You mean I'm behind the times? Oh Dear!!! :-)

Does *Rene Lamontagne* _ever_ post with purposefully helpful intent?
o Never?

Two posts to this thread, & Rene _still_ posted nothing of any value?

Is it even possible that *Rene Lamontagne* "can" _ever_ add value?
o Never?

*Rene Lamontagne proves, always, to be a worthless piece of *****.
o *Nothing Rene Lamontagne has _ever_ posted, added technical value*.

Nothing. (In his entire life!)

Anyway, the OP has been well advised already for his own PC, he'll need:
a. To be connected from his laptop to his router over Wi-Fi (or Ethernet)
b. To be connected from his router to the Internet via his ISP
c. Then, the OP needs to connect to his company's VPN
(the company may likely make the whole process seamless.)

If the company supplies the laptop, then, almost certainly, the only thing
the OP needs to do is connect that laptop to the router and the company
will likely have the VPN setup either completely automatic, or the company
will explain to the OP how to connect.

The only problem is that the company laptop needs to connect to the home
router, where, most people are assuming the OP has not the router password
or the WiFi passphrase.

If the OP has the WiFi passphrase, then that's all the OP will need to
connect the company laptop to the router.

If the OP does NOT have the WiFi passphrase, then what I'd suggest is the
OP connect any laptop to the router over the Ethernet connection and then
type the router's IP address into a web browser, e.g., 192.168.1.1 or
192.168.0.2 (although it generally depends on the router manufacturer).

If the OP tells us the make and model of the router, someone can look up
the default IP address and default admin password to the router, which
"might" still be the current setup.

For example, for a Netgear WNDR 3400, the defaults a
o Default Network name (SSID): NETGEARXX,NETGEARXX-5G
o Default Gateway IP: 192.168.1.1 Netgear login instructions
o Default username: admin
o Default password: password
https://www.router-reset.com/info/Netgear/WNDR3400v2

Where these defaults will be reverted to if the OP resets the router.
--
All of us have done this umpteen times, so feel free to ask us for advice.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 22:40:56 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:

If the OP does NOT have the WiFi passphrase, then what I'd suggest is the
OP connect any laptop to the router over the Ethernet connection and then
type the router's IP address into a web browser, e.g., 192.168.1.1 or
192.168.0.2 (although it generally depends on the router manufacturer).

Typo (192.168.0.2), which everyone who knows routers knew...
(but the OP might not know)

The default IP address of the router is likely to be something like:
o 192.168.0.1
o 192.168.1.1
But the _simplest_ way to figure that out is to google based on the router
make & model like I did for the WNDR 3400 example previously provided.
https://www.router-reset.com/info/Netgear/WNDR3400v2

The OP can also "ping" the router once he connect the PC to it by Ethernet:
Start Run cmd{Control+Shift+Enter} == Administrator Command Line
C:\ ping 192.168.1.1

The OP can also check the IP address of the router & gateway using:
C:\ ipconfig

It's likely too much data, but there are other commands that are useful:
C:\ route print
C:\ netsh int ip show route

Hope this helps the OP as it's purposefully helpful technical advice.
--
Rene -- "*Who cares about adding value, twit*" -- Lamontagne

In article , Arlen Holder
wrote:

Before the VPN trolls attack en masse, I will say that people can spend
their entire lives choosing the "best" VPN (client, protocol, service) for
their threat model, where I only suggest the following simple setup because
it's _trivial_ to set up to test out VPN for the first time (if you're
unfamiliar with it & because I use it all the time so I can help out).

once again, you haven't a clue and are just mindlessly babbling.

the original poster will be getting a *preconfigured* laptop that will
connect to his employer's vpn.

commercial vpn services are *irrelevant* and testing any of them will
not offer any useful information.

tb wrote:
On 3/17/2020 at 2:36:06 PM Paul in Houston TX wrote:

tb wrote:
Not exactly on-topic, but I am sure someone in this newsgroup knows
the answer...

The company I work for will supply me with a laptop so that I can
work from home. I am assuming that the laptop will have Windows
10's VPN software set up so that I can connect to the company's
servers. The company will supply username and password for the VPN
connection.

What I don't understand is this: Do I have to sign-in to my home
Wi-Fi network with the laptop first? Otherwise, how does the VPN
software connect to the Internet if I don't first sign in to my
home Wi-Fi network?

The reason I am asking is because I have forgotten what the Wi-Fi
password is...

Do you currently have to manually enter the wifi password every time
you want to use the internet now? IMO, that would be a horrible
situation.

No, no... The issue is that the company will be giving me one of their
laptops to work from home. Such laptop obviously has never logged into
my home Wi-Fi network, therefore I will need the Wi-Fi password for the
initial login.

Ah-hah! Now i understand. Took me awhile though
It's as everyone mentioned, if you don't know the wifi p/w, don't know
the router log in name and p/w, then you will need to reset it to
factory specs and re-do the programming and passwords.
You will also need to know the existing ssid or make a new one when you
program it.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 16:55:24 -0400, Jonathan N. Little wrote:

Many ISP supplied modem/routers have the SSID and password printed on a
label of the device unless you have changed it for a custom one
(something I would do automatically). If not your only other options are
to connect with an ethernet cable where no password is required, or do a
factory reset on device (but before you do look up user manual online
for the device's default passwords BEFORE doing the reset)

Hi Jonathan,

You gave _perfect_ advice to the OP, where I'd question only one statement.
1. It's correct most routers nowadays have defaults on the device label.
2. In addition, it's correct, a search by make & model returns defaults.

But...
3. Are you sure that connecting by Ethernet to the router doesn't require
the router admin username & password?

I haven't done that in years ('cuz I do it via Wi-Fi), but I seem to
remember the router _always_ requires the admin username & password no
matter _how_ you connect the PC to the router (but I could be behind the
times).

To the OP:
Once you're connected to the admin account of the router,
then you should be able to _see_ all the settings.

I would suggest the OP screenshot them or print those settings out.
o To screenshot, you simply type "Windows+PrintScreen".
--
Usenet is so much more valuable, & pleasant, when people act like adults.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 19:13:24 -0400, nospam wrote:

once again, you haven't a clue and are just mindlessly babbling.

the original poster will be getting a *preconfigured* laptop that will
connect to his employer's vpn.

commercial vpn services are *irrelevant* and testing any of them will
not offer any useful information.

Hi nospam,

The fact you just proved you can't function as an adult doesn't mean I
didn't understand what the OP said so please stop wasting everyone's time.

Just stop it.
o Either grow up or don't post your utter childish bull****, nospam.

This post is a waste of everyone's time, including yours and mine.
o Stop your childish games nospam.
--
Morons like nospam have nothing of value to add so they play silly games.

In article , Arlen Holder
wrote:


But...
3. Are you sure that connecting by Ethernet to the router doesn't require
the router admin username & password?

it doesn't.

I haven't done that in years ('cuz I do it via Wi-Fi),

or at all, it would seem.

but I seem to
remember the router _always_ requires the admin username & password no
matter _how_ you connect the PC to the router (but I could be behind the
times).

no.

you are confusing logging into the router admin versus simply using the
router, among numerous other things.

there's a reason why it's called 'wifi password' and not 'internet
password'.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 19:41:30 -0400, nospam wrote:

you are confusing logging into the router admin versus simply using the
router, among numerous other things.

Hi nospam,

*You literally have _zero_ purposefully helpful intent on Usenet*.

Stop playing your idiotic childish games proving this to be a fact.
o Just stop it.
--
Usenet is so much more valuable, and pleasant, when people act like adults.

nospam wrote:
In article , Arlen Holder
wrote:


But...
3. Are you sure that connecting by Ethernet to the router doesn't require
the router admin username & password?

it doesn't.

I haven't done that in years ('cuz I do it via Wi-Fi),

or at all, it would seem.

but I seem to
remember the router _always_ requires the admin username & password no
matter _how_ you connect the PC to the router (but I could be behind the
times).

no.

you are confusing logging into the router admin versus simply using the
router, among numerous other things.

there's a reason why it's called 'wifi password' and not 'internet
password'.

My TP Link requires that I log into the router to change the wifi p/w.
If I don't remember my router uid and p/w, and having lost the little
yellow sticky note, then I am not able to change the wifi. Reset time.

In article , Paul in Houston TX
wrote:

In article , Arlen Holder
wrote:
But...
3. Are you sure that connecting by Ethernet to the router doesn't require
the router admin username & password?

it doesn't.

I haven't done that in years ('cuz I do it via Wi-Fi),

or at all, it would seem.

but I seem to
remember the router _always_ requires the admin username & password no
matter _how_ you connect the PC to the router (but I could be behind the
times).

no.

you are confusing logging into the router admin versus simply using the
router, among numerous other things.

there's a reason why it's called 'wifi password' and not 'internet
password'.

My TP Link requires that I log into the router to change the wifi p/w.
If I don't remember my router uid and p/w, and having lost the little
yellow sticky note, then I am not able to change the wifi. Reset time.

that's for changing its configuration, not to connect to the outside
world or other local devices.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:44:50 +0000 (UTC), "tb"
wrote:

No, no... The issue is that the company will be giving me one of their
laptops to work from home. Such laptop obviously has never logged into
my home Wi-Fi network, therefore I will need the Wi-Fi password for the
initial login.

If you have another Windows machine that knows how to automatically log in
to your WiFi, you can probably use one of the password tools from
http://www.nirsoft.net to view your current WiFi password.

For example:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_key.html

Description
WirelessKeyView recovers all wireless network security keys/passwords
(WEP/WPA) stored in your computer by the 'Wireless Zero Configuration'
service of Windows XP or by the 'WLAN AutoConfig' service of Windows Vista,
Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2008. It allows you to
easily save all keys to text/html/xml file, or copy a single key to the
clipboard. You can also export your wireless keys into a file and import
these keys into another computer.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:25:54 -0500, Paul in Houston TX wrote:

My TP Link requires that I log into the router to change the wifi p/w.
If I don't remember my router uid and p/w, and having lost the little
yellow sticky note, then I am not able to change the wifi. Reset time.

Hi Paul in Texas,

The sadistic nospam is simply playing his incessant childish games with us.
o He knew full well we were discussing the passwd-protected admin account.

Nospam derives joy from incessantly playing his fifth-grade semantic games.

I'm more worried about clarifying technically what Jonathan advised, where
we just need to wait for Jonathan to clarify his experience logging into
the administrator account of routers when using the Ethernet connection.
--
Sadistics like nospam have absolutely zero helpful intent when they post.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 21:43:09 -0400, nospam wrote:

that's for changing its configuration, not to connect to the outside
world or other local devices.

Play your never-ending incessant silly childish fifth-grade games nospam.
o Play

You and that other worthless piece of **** *Rene Lamontagne* should get a
room together.

Neither of you ever post with _any_ purposefully helpful intent whatsoever.
o All you want to do is enjoy your silly fifth-grade childish games.
--
Rene -- "*Who cares about adding value, twit*" -- Lamontagne

On Tue, 17 Mar 2020 15:15:17 -0400, nospam wrote:

In article , mechanic
wrote:

If you forgot the wifi password, you'll need to log into your router.
You can either see your password or change it. In the last case you will
need to change the password in all other wifi connected equipment as
well.

if he doesn't remember the wifi password, what makes you think he
remembers the router password??

The manual of the router.

that will have the default password, which will be of no help if he
changed it, which is normally required.

in some cases, the isp configures it and only they know the password.

A factory reset of the router restores the default password.

along with all settings, requiring it to be reconfigured again, which
is what i said in my original post.

....in the UK consumer routers are usually supplied fully configured
for access by the ISP. Resetting that password is usually the only
config required.