Getting Started
17
Universal WiFi Extender - Powerline Edition (XAVN2001)
Powerline Network Security
A Powerline network consists of two or more Powerline devices using the same network
encryption key. Securing your network is crucial. By encrypting the information that you send
over the Powerline network, you help to keep it secure from hackers. If you do not set up
security on your network, anyone nearby with a Powerline network can potentially use his or
her connection to gain access to your network and information that you send over the
Internet. This concern is especially relevant in settings such as apartment buildings, office
buildings, dorm rooms, and other more populated areas.
You can use either the Security button on the Powerline device or NETGEAR genie to secure
your Powerline
network.
• Use th
e Security button on the Powerline device to automatically generate a random
private encryption key. See Use the Security Button to Set the Encryption Key on
page 17.
• Use NETGEAR ge
nie to configure your Powerline network with a private encryption key
that you specify. See Install NETGEAR genie on p
age 21.
Use the Security Button to Set the Encryption Key
Note: A Powerline device can generate a random private encryption key
only once. If you want to generate a new random key, first reset the
Powerline devices to their factory default settings. Either press the
Factory Reset button for 2 seconds, then release it, or use the
NETGEAR genie factory reset feature. (See
Reset a Device to
Factory Default Settings on page 28.)
You can use the Security button to replace the default encryption key with a random private
e
ncryption key. The default encryption key is HomePlugAV.
To set the encryption key:
1. Make sure t
hat all of the Powerline devices that you want to configure are plugged in.
Verify that the Power and Powerline LEDs on each device are lit solid green.