where can i find my network security key or WEP?

prava,

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Is is asking for a WEP key for your wireless network or a nearby wireless network that it just happens to have locked onto? It might sound like a silly question but I thought it worth checking with you first as it might be picking up someone else's network rather than yours and asking for the WEP key. If you named your wireless network when you set it up you should be able to see the name when the Windows PC picks up the network after scanning for available wireless networks.

If you don't remember setting up a WEP key then the chances are that maybe you haven't. It is worth having a look at your router. You should be able to interrogate your wireless router from your Mac which, I assume, operates on the internet just fine. Your router user manual should have details on how to interrogate it so have a read and then examine the Wireless LAN security set up (if any).

Chris

wireless home network passphrases are set up in the wireless router. There should be a dedicated web page in the wireless router's configuration pages for wireless settings, where this would be set up. It probably won't be displayed, but it is easy enough to reset to something new, then you could reset yours and hers computer. Some modem's have a default wireless network passphrase that is posted on a label on the bottom of the modem. If you can choose WPA2 or WPA (if both the modem and mom's computer are new enough to support those), I would use those. Maybe not an issue where your mom lives, but there are programs that can be downloaded on the internet that will crack WEP passwords in minutes.

If you Mac knows the WEP key, then this is stored in your Keychain

Applications -> Utilities -> Keychain Access

It should be stored under you network's SSID name, of Kind: "Airport network password"

NOTE: If the WiFi base station is NOT an Apple Airport Extreme base station, or if your Mom's computer is a PC, the best choice for a WEP password is exactly 5 characters if 40/64bit WEP and exactly 13 characters if 104/128bit WEP.

As has been mentioned, WEP can be cracked in a matter of minutes by anyone via software that can be downloaded from the internet. However, it will keep honest people honest, and avoid neighbors accidentially connecting to your network.

WPA is a better choice for WiFi security.

And if BobHarris' hints don't help you out, if you view the modem/router's broadband, or wide-area, or external (or however they call it) connection details configuration page (mine is called "Broadband Link Advanced Settings") and write down your mom's ISP account username, ISP account password, and ISP connection type (e.g., PPoA, PPoE, etc.), and other required information that you need to connect to the ISP, you could always do a factory default reset of the router and reconfigure it. There's usually a small hole on the back side of the router labeled "reset" meant to insert a straightened paper clip to depress a button in there (for about 5 secs or so) meant for that purpose.

Whether you reset the router or not, gather up and save the ISP login info and wireless password info on your computer, that is not usually at your Mom's. Do an ⌘i on that file containing all that information (ISP connection info and preferably WPA2 password or second preference WPA password or last preference WEP password) and click the "Locked" checkbox so you don't accidentally delete it.