I am running a standard cable internet connection (Time Warner in NYC), using a D-Link DI-524 wireless router (802.11g, 2.4ghz). I have two machines, one is a MacBook with built in wireless adapter, the other is a Dell PC with a Linksys Compact Wireless-G USB adapter.

For a few months, things were fine. Lately, a few strange things are happening. First, both machines (but more so the Dell) seem to have trouble connecting to the preferred, secure network set up in my apartment...and instead opt for the unsecure network belonging to someone else in the building.

But even stranger, right now my private network is showing up as *unsecured* even though I haven't changed any settings.

Any idea what is happening here?

Thanks.

Don't want to alarm you. However it COULD be that the wireless security of your router has been compromised?

Go into your router and re-input new settings. Starting with, your routers basic login and password screen, even if you’ve already changed them from the default, change them again.

Change the name of your network or even better, if available chose to hide it. Re-enable any security. As already discussed in this and other forums, WEP isn’t that secure any more try WPA or MAC filtering if available.

If you have the ability to reduce the WiFi power, of your router do so and/or if possible move it away from windows to reduce your network footprint.

It may be that your PC’s no longer see your router as the “preferred network” because its settings have changed?
Clear out all automatically connect entries from both machines and start again with a clean sheet.

It may just be a simple case of the router settings have changed due to a power spike.

Better be safe than sorry.