NETGEAR WG111U user manual WPA Wireless Security, How to Use WEP Parameters

User’s Manual for the NETGEAR Super AG Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111U

How to Use WEP Parameters

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption is used when the wireless devices are configured to operate in Shared Key authentication mode. There are two shared key methods implemented in most commercially available products, 64-bit and 128-bit WEP data encryption.

Before enabling WEP on an 802.11 network, you must first consider what type of encryption you require and the key size you want to use. Typically, there are three WEP Encryption options available for 802.11 products:

1.Do Not Use WEP: The 802.11 network does not encrypt data. For authentication purposes, the network uses Open System Authentication.

2.Use WEP for Encryption: A transmitting 802.11 device encrypts the data portion of every packet it sends using a configured WEP Key. The receiving 802.11g device decrypts the data using the same WEP Key. For authentication purposes, the 802.11g network uses Open System Authentication.

3.Use WEP for Authentication and Encryption: A transmitting 802.11 device encrypts the data portion of every packet it sends using a configured WEP Key. The receiving 802.11 device decrypts the data using the same WEP Key. For authentication purposes, the 802.11 network uses Shared Key Authentication.

Note: Some 802.11 access points also support Use WEP for Authentication Only (Shared Key Authentication without data encryption). However, the WG111U does not offer this option.

WPA Wireless Security

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a specification of standards-based, interoperable security enhancements that increase the level of data protection and access control for existing and future wireless LAN systems.

The IEEE introduced the WEP as an optional security measure to secure 802.11g (Wi-Fi) WLANs, but inherent weaknesses in the standard soon became obvious. In response to this situation, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced a new security architecture in October 2002 that remedies the short comings of WEP. This standard, formerly known as Safe Secure Network (SSN), is designed to work with existing 802.11 products and offers forward compatibility with 802.11i, the new wireless security architecture being defined in the IEEE.

WPA offers the following benefits:

B-8 Wireless Networking Basics

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