Recently, we subscribed to a different Internet service company. The Internet man brought in a DSL router which is connected via an Ethernet cable to a Linksys WRT54GR, version 1.1. which we were using before. the Linksys had a password assigned which I have written down; however, our laptops indicate that our network is not secured (no icon of a lock) which concerns me because I believe any of our neighbors’ college students are able to tap into our network causing it to be slower due to the extra users taping into the router(s).

Can anyone, please, share with me the best way (step by step in laymen terms) to protect my MacBook Pro, my sisters’ Sony Viao, Hitachi, and Toshiba laptops from being accessed?

I am hoping I can lock my DSL router, reuse the password I used to use anytime we buy a new laptop and decide to join our network. Also, I am curious to know whether a neighbor who is able to join my unsecured network is also able to see what I or my sisters are typing on our keyboards or the files we have saved on our laptops?

Thank you all in advance for your assistance.