WEP and WPA are forms of security passwords for a wireless Internet connection used to prevent other people from detecting and connecting to your personal home router. WEP is an older form of security that is not as secure as the newer WPA form. If your Dell Inspiron computer is connected to a wireless router that currently uses WEP, you can connect into that router and change the security form to WPA for stronger encryption.
1). Launch your Internet browser program on your Dell Inspiron.
2). Type your router's IP address in the browser's address bar and press the "Enter" key on your keyboard to launch the router's login prompt. You may need to consult your router's manual for information on your router's default IP address.
3). Type the administrator username and password in the login prompt. If you have not set up your own administrator account, this will also be set to the router's default, which can be found in the router's manual.
4). Navigate to the "Wireless" or "Security" section on your router's dashboard. The dashboard will be different depending on your router's brand and model, but most will provide security settings under one of these sections.
5). Locate your current WEP security settings and change this to WPA. Depending on the router, you can either select "WPA" from a drop down menu or place a mark next to "WPA" in a list of security types.
6). Type a security password into your WPA passkey text box. This password can be between 8 and 32 letters with a longer password being more secure.
7). Write down this security password as you will need to use this when attempting to connect your Dell Inspiron or any other wireless device to your router.
8). Press the "Save" button and allow the router to reset. Your network security is now upgraded from WEP to WPA.
