Hi,

You need to access the router and look for the network key. For you to access your router you need to type 192.168.1.1 to he address bar of your browser and it will ask you for a username and password. The default username is "admin" and the default password is admin. Go to the router settings page and check the Network Key (Security Key). You can also personalize the network key for you to easily remember it.

Thanks for using Fixya.

A security key is indicative of a wireless network that has been secured. This is done by using one of the wireless encryption methods like WEP or WPA/WPA2-PSK, These settings are done by the user after a router is installed.

The typical home router, when purchased, comes from the box as an open system meaning anyone within range of the router can connect to the network.

Now, a couple scenarious as to why you are being asked this. First, wireless security had been setup some time ago and the computer you are now being asked for a key for has never connected to the router or had in the past but no longer has the settings for this wireless connection. The other, more nefarious scenario, would be another person accessing your router and securing it without your knowledge.

If you absolutely do not remember/know the security key, your next step would be to restore the router to the factory default settings. This is done by pressing the reset button on the router typically for 5 to 30 seconds.

Since I do not know anything else about your current router settings, this would also mean any settings made after the router was installed would be lost as well. Fortunately, for most users, the only thing really needed to be done to them is to pick and encryption standard and leave the rest along. I believe the picture below shows the reset button as the 2 from the left on the view of the back.



You should also be able to refer to your ISP for any additional router settings that may be necessary to ensure a connection should you decide to reset your router.