NETGEAR WG111U user manual How Does WPA Compare to WEP?

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

Enhanced data privacy

Robust key management

Data origin authentication

Data integrity protection

Starting in August of 2003, all new Wi-Fi certified products had to support WPA and all existing Wi-Fi certified products had one year to comply with the new standard or lose their Wi-Fi certification. NETGEAR has implemented WPA on client and access point products. As of August 2004, all Wi-Fi certified products must support WPA.

How Does WPA Compare to WEP?

WEP is a data encryption method and is not intended as a user authentication mechanism. WPA user authentication is implemented using 802.1x and the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). Support for 802.1x authentication is required in WPA. In the 802.11 standard, 802.1x authentication was optional. For details on EAP specifically, refer to IETF's RFC 2284.

With 802.11 WEP, all access points and client wireless adapters on a particular wireless LAN must use the same encryption key. A major problem with the 802.11 standard is that the keys are cumbersome to change. If you don't update the WEP keys often, an unauthorized person with a sniffing tool can monitor your network for less than a day and decode the encrypted messages. Products based on the 802.11 standard alone offer system administrators no effective method to update the keys.

For 802.11, WEP encryption is optional. For WPA, encryption using Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) is required. TKIP replaces WEP with a new encryption algorithm that is stronger than the WEP algorithm, but that uses the calculation facilities present on existing wireless devices to perform encryption operations. TKIP provides important data encryption enhancements including a per-packet key mixing function, a message integrity check (MIC) named Michael, an extended initialization vector (IV) with sequencing rules, and a re-keying mechanism. Through these enhancements, TKIP addresses all of known WEP vulnerabilities.

Wireless Networking Basics

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Contents 202-10065-01 Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer Technical SupportFCC Requirements for Operation in the United States FCC Guidelines for Human ExposureDeclaration Of Conformity Export Restrictions Operation Using 2.4 GHz Channels in FranceMetropolitan Regions with Eased Restrictions in 2.4GHz Band Allowed 5GHz Channels in Each European Community Country Operation Using 5 GHz Channels in the European CommunityVii Viii Contents Chapter Configuration Appendix C Preparing Your Network to Work with a Router Glossary Index Typographical conventions Manual SpecificationsChapter About This Manual Audience, Scope, ConventionsHtml version of this manual How to Use this ManualHow to Print this Manual About This Manual About the WG111U Chapter Introduction802.11a and 802.11b/g Wireless Networking Key FeaturesComparing the 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g Modes Comparison of Wireless ModesWhat’s in the Box? Road Map for ‘How to Get There From Here’If I Want To? What’s Needed? What Do I Do? How Do I? Road Map for How to Get There From HereNetgear Super AG Netgear Super AG Wireless Wired network Wirelessly connect Verifying System Requirements Chapter Basic SetupWhat You Need Before You Begin Observing Location and Range Guidelines Determining Placement of the USB AdapterAttach fastener to back of plastic cradle Two Basic Operating ModesBasic Installation Instructions WG111U Default Wireless Configuration SettingsFor Windows XP Users Installing a WG111U Install the Netgear Super AG Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WG111U Configure your WG111U Verify wireless connectivity to your network For Windows 2000, ME, and 98SE Users Installing a WG111U Found New Hardware Wizard WG111U System Tray Icon Configure your WG111U WG111U Wireless Connection Indicators LED Descriptions Interpreting the LED on the WG111UStatus LED Yellow Interpreting System Tray Icon ColorsColor Condition Description RedUsing Configuration Profiles Chapter ConfigurationUnderstanding the Configuration Options Run the WG111U Smart Wireless Wizard Connecting to an Access Point in Infrastructure ModeHow to Configure an Infrastructure Mode Profile Save your settings in a Profile Configure the wireless network settingsConfigure the PC network settings Connecting to Another PC in Ad-hoc ModeHow to Configure an Ad-hoc Mode Profile Ad-Hoc Setting dialog box Ping -t 192.168.0.1 and then click OK Statistics What’s on the Statistics Page?Advanced Settings Understanding the Advanced SettingsTPC Configuration Procedure European Regulatory Requirements for Transmit Power ControlConfiguration Understanding the Security Options Chapter Wireless Security ConfigurationBasic Requirements for WEP Using WEP SecurityWEP Security Encryption Key WEP Security Settings WorksheetWireless Network Name Ssid Configure the WEP settings How to Configure WEP Encryption SecurityConfigure the Network Name Ssid settings Basic Requirements for WPA-PSK Using WPA-PSK Advanced SecurityHow to Configure WPA-PSK Advanced Security WPA-PSK Security Settings WorksheetWPA-PSK settings screen Configure the WPA-PSK settingsWireless Security Configuration Basic Tips Chapter TroubleshootingGeneral Questions Frequently Asked QuestionsAd Hoc mode is not working correctly New Hardware Wizard appears after installation has completed How to use XP’s own Wireless configuration utilityTroubleshooting USB Appendix a Technical SpecificationsTechnical Specifications Infrastructure Mode Appendix B Wireless Networking BasicsWireless Networking Overview Wireless Channels Ad Hoc Mode Peer-to-Peer WorkgroupNetwork Name Extended Service Set Identification Essid Table B-1 802.11g Radio Frequency Channels Radio frequency channels used are listed in Table B-1WEP Authentication WEP Wireless SecurityAccess point have the same WEP are described below Authentication Shared Key Steps Key Size and Configuration How to Use WEP Parameters WPA Wireless SecurityHow Does WPA Compare to WEP? How Does WPA Compare to Ieee 802.11i? What are the Key Features of WPA Security?Wireless Networking Basics Figure B-3 WPA Overview Login AuthenticationFigure B-4 802.1x Authentication Sequence WPA Data Encryption Key Management Temporal Key Integrity Protocol Tkip Product Support for WPA Supporting a Mixture of WPA and WEP Wireless ClientsChanges to Wireless Access Points Is WPA Perfect?Michael WPA two-phase authenticationChanges to Wireless Network Adapters New WPA information elementChanges to Wireless Client Programs Cabling and Computer Hardware Computer Network Configuration RequirementsAppendix C Preparing Your Network to Work with a Router What You Need To Use a Router with a Broadband ModemWhere Do I Get the Internet Configuration Parameters? Internet Configuration RequirementsRecord Your Internet Connection Information Preparing Your Computers for TCP/IP Networking Installing a New Adapter Configuring Windows 95, 98, and Me for TCP/IP NetworkingInstalling or Verifying Windows Networking Components Installing the Client for Microsoft Networks Installing TCP/IPOpen the Network Panel Verify the Configuration SettingsVerifying TCP/IP Properties Selecting the Windows’ Internet Access MethodVerify the Properties IP Address Setting Configuring Windows NT4, 2000 or XP for IP Networking Go to the Network Connection Status window Configuring Dhcp of TCP/IP in Windows XP, 2000, or NT4Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows XP Open the Network Connection WindowSet Dhcp for TCP/IP Go to PropertiesCheck the Local Area Connection Properties Settings Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in WindowsCheck the Internet Protocol Properties Complete the configurationGo to TCP/IP Properties Dhcp Configuration of TCP/IP in Windows NT4Set the TCP/IP Properties Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Windows XP, 2000, and NT4MacOS Configuring the Macintosh for TCP/IP NetworkingMacOS 8.6 or Verifying TCP/IP Properties for Macintosh Computers Verifying the Readiness of Your Internet AccountWhat Is Your Configuration Information? Are Login Protocols Used?Select the Gateway tab Restarting the Network Glossary Glossary-2 Glossary Glossary-3 Glossary-4 Glossary Glossary-5 Glossary-6 Numerics IndexIndex-2