Linksys wireless setup

[Preti9cboi]

I'm new at setting up a wireless connection and would like to know where i can look at some information to setup a linksys wireless G router and the 128 encryption.

Any links?

 

[amdskip]

http://www.linksys.com/edu/ their manuals are pretty good too

 

[PG]

I hope you don't mean 128 bit WEP for encryption. That was hacked in 3 minutes once as a demonstration so people understand how weak it is.
If you have the proper wireless adapters you should use WPA with AES. It's the best available with that hardware.
Well, you could technically get WPA2 working with some beta firmware on that router and the right Linksys PCI adapter and drivers, but WPA with AES are the core of WPA2 so it's good enough for now.

 

[casper114]

What software did they use to hack the encryption, this is the first i have heard of anything like that. What's your source?

 

[imported_michealo]

they used a brute force dictionary hack

so don't have "12345" or "bob" for your WEP key and you're fine

 

[nweaver]

I would say that for casual home use, Wep128 is fine. Not many people are going to sit at your house to "haxxors" your WEP key so that they can watch you torrent Dukes of Hazzard episodes. If you can do WPA easily, then go for it, it's a good thing, but don't sweat it if you can't, don't run out and upgrade all your hardware, etc. Basic network/workstation security and common sense is going to help you more then then WPA2.

If you are a buisness, then you need to think harder about it, what is encrypted at the application level (ssh, ssl websites, etc) what is on the network (customer info, pre release product specs, etc).

Wep is the first part of total security. YOu should think about 802.1X authentication (such as leap), key rotation (WPA, CCKM), MAC authentication, etc. Also you should follow basic network security, lock down unused services, keep file shares to a minimum with proper security, watch the DHCP server for odd assignments, etc.

 

[PG]

Originally posted by: casper114
What software did they use to hack the encryption, this is the first i have heard of anything like that. What's your source?

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article111.php

At a recent ISSA (Information Systems Security Association) meeting in Los Angeles, a team of FBI agents demonstrated current WEP-cracking techniques and broke a 128 bit WEP key in about three minutes. Special Agent Geoff Bickers ran the Powerpoint presentation and explained the attack, while the other agents (who did not want to be named or photographed) did the dirty work of sniffing wireless traffic and breaking the WEP keys.

This article will be a general overview of the procedures used by the FBI team. A future article will give step-by-step instructions on how to replicate the attack.

There you go, and it was no simple password that got cracked, it was a random password that was over 20 characters long. You can see it yourself in the later pages of the article. Most people won't use anything that hard to figure out either.

 

[c3p0]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but to crack someone?s encryption you have to get close enough to receive the signal from the Wireless Router or AP. Now if you're sitting out on my curb with a laptop I going to come out and ask what the he11 you're doing. Now I agree, if you are in an apartment or even a condo you might need to pay closer attention to your neighbors. But for MOST home users WEP is more than adequate.

I agree encryption can be broken, but come on guys lets get real here. If someone is camping outside your house I think you would notice.

PG, a little paranoid are we?

Just my 2 cents.

Edit: Sorry to wander so far off topic. But how many wireless home users do you guys know that have had their networks hacked. My current count is 0.

c3p0
:beer:

 

[PG]

I am maybe a bit paranoid, but if a person has a decent antenna they can be far enough away that you wouldn't notice them. And what I mean by a decent antenna could mean something really cheap. They aren't expensive anymore.
I live in a nice affluent suburb and I know of a guy who had some warchalking outside his house to show that he had an open network until he figured it out and turned WEP on. This was over a year ago when WEP was somewhat decent protection. Seems some people just leeched off his net connection and didn't do any damage, but they could have.

WEP is better than nothing, and some say you only need to be a bit more secure than your neighbor. It's just that WPA stuff is really cheap now, or maybe I'm just spoiled by a Fry's close by. I got an Airlink G router for around $20 on sale and the USB 2.0 wireless adapters were also on sale at the same time for $15, no rebates. I got 2 of those, so the total bill was roughly $50 plus tax. That was a special sale, but going to WPA hardware doesn't need to be expensive.

 

[casper114]

Originally posted by: PG
I am maybe a bit paranoid, but if a person has a decent antenna they can be far enough away that you wouldn't notice them. And what I mean by a decent antenna could mean something really cheap. They aren't expensive anymore.

Yea pringles cans will work, not to mention the better equipment you have the easier it is for someone who is far away to gain your internet access, and access to all of your shared folders and who knows what else. I do live in an apartment and when i have my laptop in my truck I can see 4 networks sitting in the parking lot. I can drive through certain neighborhoods in my area and have a constant connection while driving down the street just by setting to connect automatically.

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: PG
WEP is better than nothing, and some say you only need to be a bit more secure than your neighbor. It's just that WPA stuff is really cheap now, or maybe I'm just spoiled by a Fry's close by. I got an Airlink G router for around $20 on sale and the USB 2.0 wireless adapters were also on sale at the same time for $15, no rebates. I got 2 of those, so the total bill was roughly $50 plus tax. That was a special sale, but going to WPA hardware doesn't need to be expensive.

you got me curious does Airlink G have WPA? Cuz I have Airlink B cardbus it does not have WPA but it runs just fine...Very cheap I bought it for 10 bucks.