NETGEAR MA101 Protecting Your Wireless Connection, Enabling Basic Wireless Security Features

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Chapter 3 Protecting Your Wireless Connection

The absence of a physical connection between nodes makes wireless links vulnerable to information theft. This chapter describes how to use the basic security features of the MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter to protect your connection.

Enabling Basic Wireless Security Features

There are several ways you can strengthen the security of your wireless connection.

Enable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption of the wireless data communications. For information on WEP, please see “Authentication and WEP Encryption” on page 37.

Change the factory default SSID setting of the MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter.

In addition to the MA101 wireless security features, you should also configure appropriate LAN network security features such as requiring a user name and password to access the shared resources in your network.

At a minimum, configure your wireless network to use an SSID other than the default setting.The procedures below identify how to change the SSID and WEP encryption settings of your MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter.

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Contents NETGEAR, Inc Technical Support Contents Index Bold times roman User input Preface About This Installation GuidePage Chapter Introduction About the MA101 802.11b Wireless USB AdapterKey Features and Related Netgear Products Model MA101 Resource CD, including What’s in the Box?Road Map for How to Get There From Here Road Map for ‘How to Get There From Here’A Road Map for How to Get There From Here Up the MA101 Other computers Connect to Password that have been Help Network Page What You Will Need Before You Begin Chapter Installing MA101 802.11b Wireless USB AdapterObserve Location and Range Guidelines Verify System RequirementsTwo Basic Operating Modes MA101 Default Wireless Configuration Settings MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter in Infrastructure Mode Connect the MA101 USB Adapter to your computer Setting Up the MA101 in Infrastructure ModeFor Windows XP Users Installing a MA101 Install the MA101 driver software Verify wireless connectivity to your network Insert the Model MA101 Resource CD into your computer For Windows 98/Me Users Installing a MA101Install the MA101 software Click Yes when asked if you want to reboot the system Ssid Wireless Configure your wireless adapterInsert the Model MA101 Resource CD into your CD-ROM drive For Windows 2000 Users Installing a MA101Page MA101 Configuration Utility MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter in Ad-Hoc Mode Using the MA101 to Connect in Ad-Hoc ModeComputer-to-computer Ad-Hoc networks only Setting Up a MA101 in Ad-Hoc ModeSet up the MA101 USB Adapter for your computer Configure your wireless adaptersVerify wireless connectivity between the computers Color Condition Description Interpreting System Tray Icon ColorsSymptom Cause Solution Troubleshooting TipsPage Enabling Basic Wireless Security Features Protecting Your Wireless ConnectionPage Changing the Ssid Setting the Wireless Network Name SsidConfiguring WEP Encryption Configuring WEP Encryption SecurityDsss Appendix a Technical SpecificationsPage Related Publications Wireless Networking Appendix B 802.11b Wireless Networking BasicsAd Hoc Mode Peer-to-Peer Workgroup Wireless Network ConfigurationAuthentication and WEP Encryption Extended Service Set Identification EssidWired Equivalent Privacy WEP Wireless Channel SelectionRadio frequency channels used are listed in Table Page Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP Networking Appendix C Preparing Your PCs for Network AccessInstall or Verify Windows Networking Components Configuring Windows 98 and Me for TCP/IP NetworkingPage Page Primary Network Logon is set to Windows logon Choose Settings, and then Control PanelLocate your Network Neighborhood icon Page Verifying TCP/IP Properties Configuring Windows 2000 or XP for TCP/IP NetworkingDhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP orConnection with the wireless icon and choose Status TCP/IP details are presented on the Support tab Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows Page Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Windows XP or Page Numerics IndexPage Page Page Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer Page NETGEAR, Inc