Dynex DX-WGRTR Securing your Wi-Fi®Network, Access, Privacy, Privacy, Acronym, 128-Bit, Security, Features, Equivalent, Equivalent, Encryption, 64-BitWired, Access-TKIP

Setting up your wireless router 25

Securing your Wi-Fi® Network

Here are a few different ways you can maximize the security of your wireless network and protect your data from prying eyes and ears. This section is intended for the home, home office, and small office user.

At the time of this User Manual's publication, there are four encryption methods available.

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

Wired Equivalent Privacy (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-BitWEP—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.

128-BitEncryption—As a result of 64-bit WEP’s potential security weaknesses, a more secure method of 128-bit encryption was developed. 128-bit encryption includes a key length of 104 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated data (128 bits total). Some hardware manufacturers refer to 128-bit as 104-bit encryption. Most of the new wireless equipment in the market today supports both 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption, but you might have older equipment that only supports 64-bit WEP. All wireless products from Dynex will support both 64-bit and 128-bit WEP.