How to get WEP key out of my mac!

[sooth]

I'm on my iBook, and on my Airport and I cannot remember my WEP key! But my mac has it stored in there somewhere correct? Because I can still use this AP. So how can I get my key back?

 

[CoMpX]

The WEP key can be obtained by opening up the Airport Admin Utility, double click on the base station in the list, then click on Password on the top and it should show you your WEP key.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Man I wish I could get my wireless router working for the mac uggh

 

[JAT]

Why can't you?

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Wont accept the password key and I know its right my pcs are working fine on the wireless. Only way I can get it working is if I unsecure the network.

 

[gauchogolfer]

Wont accept the password key and I know its right my pcs are working fine on the wireless. Only way I can get it working is if I unsecure the network.

Are you using WEP or WPA keys for the wireless?

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Are you using WEP or WPA keys for the wireless?

WEP

 

[gauchogolfer]

WEP

Well, if it's just plain 'ole WEP, no 128-bit encryption fanciness, then you should be fine going through the sys prefs->network->airport setup, then adding a new network, specifying WEP, typing in the password, and voila. What step do you get hung up on, and can you post a screenshot of what it looks like when it fails to connect?

 

[Clydefrog]

keychain access, find your network name, open box and lick the box "show password"

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Just wont accept the password says its invalid no matter how I do it only way it works is if I unsecure it so now I'm connected via ethernet cable which works (of course) but I'm getting a MBP which means I will have to get the wireless working eventually. I've heard rumors that if you put a $ in front of your password that fixes it? Can anyone shed light on that?

 

[gauchogolfer]

Just wont accept the password says its invalid no matter how I do it only way it works is if I unsecure it so now I'm connected via ethernet cable which works (of course) but I'm getting a MBP which means I will have to get the wireless working eventually. I've heard rumors that if you put a $ in front of your password that fixes it? Can anyone shed light on that?

Have you tried putting a $ in front? Seems to me the easiest way to verify...

It might be true, since the hexadecimal-translated passwords usually start with a $, IIRC.

 

[OzMo]

Yeah - I had problems getting access to a Windows controlled WEP n/w in Sydney recently. The "$" trick worked first time. It's worth a try.

 

[tipdrill407]

Are you using HEX, WEP keys?? Macs do not support ASCII only HEX.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

I'm just a bit scared to fool around with the router I've already messed it up once before

 

[sooth]

lol ok hijacked... but Im sorry its a AirPort Extreme, and how would i connect it to my Mac if its compatable (the airport admin utility) to get the password?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I'm just a bit scared to fool around with the router I've already messed it up once before

What brand is the router, and what is the WEP password? (Don't tell us the network name.)

And if you're wondering if it's safe to give out your WEP password, don't worry. Someone with the right software can break into it in a matter of minutes anyway.

 

[surroundfan]

WPA-PSK (WPA Personal) is so much better than WEP on so many levels. It's more secure (although still crackable), easier to remember and simpler to setup...

The Whirlpool forums may be able to aid you in your quest to set up WPA...

 

[netdog]

My mac has it stored in there somewhere correct? So how can I get my key back?

Threaten to format his hardrive in FAT16 and do a fresh install of Win98.

 

[ITASOR]

I'm just a bit scared to fool around with the router I've already messed it up once before

Yeah, try the $, sometimes that fixes it.

 

[bbrosemer]

Man I wish I could get my wireless router working for the mac uggh

There could be two problems one could be you could be filtering out MAC addresses and only allowing certain computers to connect, also make sure that you are entering one of the keys that were generated not the passkey, one other thing to try is to try a different passkey there should be 4 available.

 

[kwood]

Using the “$” sign tells the Mac OS that you are using a hex password.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106424

In a hexadecimal password, the dollar sign is called the Hex Escape. It notifies the software that the characters that follow it should be treated as a hexadecimal number.

And,

Are you using HEX, WEP keys?? Macs do not support ASCII only HEX.

This is not true, that article tells you how to connect using ASCII.

And as far as acquiring the Hexadecimal equivalent password, follow this article:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106864

 

[Rich88]

WEP password question

The WEP key can be obtained by opening up the Airport Admin Utility, double click on the base station in the list, then click on Password on the top and it should show you your WEP key.

I did this but when the box came up where the password would go, it was blank. Does this mean one never was asigned to it, or what? I went to the Kechain Access, clicke on System (on th left) and saw only two entries, one of which said Airport Network Password.. I double-clicked on that, clicked show password, and got something with 28 or so characters. Is THAT it?

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I did this but when the box came up where the password would go, it was blank. Does this mean one never was asigned to it, or what? I went to the Kechain Access, clicke on System (on th left) and saw only two entries, one of which said Airport Network Password.. I double-clicked on that, clicked show password, and got something with 28 or so characters. Is THAT it?

That would be a 128-bit WEP 'hex key'.

 

[Rich88]

Still no passsword?

That would be a 128-bit WEP 'hex key'.

And so I've still not solved the question of what the WEP password is, right? Is the password something I would have chosen when establishng my Airport Express or is it something that came with it and that I have to discover?

Thaks for the help.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

And so I've still not solved the question of what the WEP password is, right? Is the password something I would have chosen when establishng my Airport Express or is it something that came with it and that I have to discover?

Thaks for the help.

The WEP standard officially only defines a 10 or 26 character 'key' in hexadecimal (0-9 + a-f.) Any WEP 'password' is an invention of the hardware manufacturer, and their software uses a custom algorithm for converting the password into a standard hex key. So, for example, if you enter the password 'password' on an Apple AirPort, you will get a different hex key than if you enter 'password' on a Linksys router, which will in turn be different than 'password' on a NetGear router.

I am not aware of any software that can turn a hex key into a password. You just use the hex key. (On a Mac, when you try to connect to the network, choose 'Wireless Security' of 'WEP 40/128-bit hex', and type in the 26 character key. In Windows, when you choose the network, type in the key in the two boxes.)