10

I'm using a macmini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard to share a cable internet connection. Sharing works fine except that security is limited to 40/128 bit WEP that is insecure (can be hacked in minutes). Is it possible to share the connection via wifi with stronger WPA/WPA2 security? Maybe using some third-party internet sharing app?

Improve this question
3
  • Use an AirPort Express instead of a Mac Mini to share the connection. The Mac internet sharing is seemingly designed for temporary ad hoc use.
    – jaberg
    Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 15:06
  • possible duplicate of Can I secure a Mac's ad hoc network better than just the default WEP?
    – mmmmmm
    Commented Apr 11, 2012 at 22:29
  • The answer you marked is applicable to Mountain Lion, but your question says you're using Snow Leopard. Consider revising the question.
    – zwerdlds
    Commented Apr 8, 2013 at 1:11

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
9

Mac OS X Mountain Lion supports Internet Sharing using WPA/WPA2. You will need to upgrade to get this functionality. This article has a little more info. And here is a screenshot of the new option for WPA2 in Mountain Lion (10.8):

New WPA2 option for Internet Sharing in Mac OS X Mountain Lion

Improve this answer
2
  • Do I have to do something special to get this option? I'm on MacOS X 10.8.1, but I'm just offered "None", "40-bit WEP", and "128-bit WEP"...
    – iGEL
    Commented Sep 24, 2012 at 8:18
  • Never mind. I tried to create a WIFI, but I had to enable internet sharing. I thought it would be the same... ;-)
    – iGEL
    Commented Sep 24, 2012 at 8:46
6

This is not supported in Mac OS X 10.7 and lower. See:

  1. Can I secure a Mac's ad hoc network better than just the default WEP?

  2. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8339.html

Perhaps in the next version of the OS, but currently Lion does not accommodate changing the encryption/authentication protocol of an ad-hoc network based from the device.

Though I have looked, there is no software to my knowledge that supports this feature aside from using a separate OS. You can dual boot: Some versions of Windows do support this feature.

Improve this answer
3

It seems that a work-around is to boot into an older version of the OS, configure WPA2, and then boot back.

I set up Internet Sharing a few OS versions ago, and the “Airport Setup” screen had a “Security” dropdown to choose between WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA2 Enterprise. Now, running 10.6.8, the “Security” dropdown is gone, and WEP seems to be the only choice. Yet, when I enable sharing on the machine, it still uses the previously-configured WPA2.

Improve this answer
2
  • 3
    So this setting is saved somewhere. Maybe it's a way to modify it without access to previous OS version?
    – grigoryvp
    Commented May 22, 2012 at 14:29
  • If @Randy or another Mac expert can locate the configuration file responsible (probably a .plist somewhere) I am sure a way can be found.
    – dgw
    Commented May 29, 2013 at 18:10

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .