17
Using the Belkin Wireless Networking Utility
17
1
2
3
4
5
6
section
At the time of publication, four Encryption Methods are available:

Encryption Methods:

Name 64-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
128-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
Wi-Fi Protected
Access-TKIP
Wi-Fi
Protected
Access 2
Acronym 64-bit WEP 128-bit WEP WPA-TKIP/AES
(or just WPA)
WPA2-AES (or
just WPA2)
Security Good Better Best Best
Features Static keys Static keys Dynamic key
encryption
and mutual
authentication
Dynamic key
encryption
and mutual
authentication
Encryption
keys based on
RC4 algorithm
(typically 40-bit
keys)
More secure
than 64-bit
WEP using a
key length of
104 bits plus
24 additional
bits of system-
generated data
TKIP (Temporal
Key Integrity
Protocol) added
so that keys
are rotated and
encryption is
strengthened
AES
(Advanced
Encryption
Standard)
does not
cause any
throughput
loss
WEP

WEP is a common protocol that adds security to all Wi-Fi-compliant

wireless products. WEP gives wireless networks the equivalent level

of privacy protection as a comparable wired network.

64-Bit WEP

64-bit WEP was first introduced with 64-bit encryption, which includes

a key length of 40 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated

data (64 bits total). Some hardware manufacturers refer to 64-bit

as 40-bit encryption. Shortly after the technology was introduced,

researchers found that 64-bit encryption was too easy to decode.