WEP? Disabled or enabled, what's the difference?

[bonk102]

I'm having issues right now with my new D-link wireless router and usb receiver. The only way it will work is if WEP is disabled, anyone know why? just wondering if anyone can help. Any help would be greatly appreciated. any time i have WEP enabled noone on the wireless network can sign on, and if WEP is disabled, what are the consequences? thanks in advance

 

[Lord Evermore]

After you enable WEP on the router, you're entering an encryption key? And then on each of the wireless computers, you're entering the same encryption key and encryption bit size?

 

[drquest]

WEP (wired equivalent privacy) gives you a little bit of security, although it can be broken on your wireless network. The main cost is your speeds drop. If you're not interested in securing your connection leave WEP disabled. If you do enable it anyone wanting to use the wireless network will need to enter the WEP key on their wireless card, that key will match the key on the access point allowing a connection to be established. Someone not entering the key can still see the access point but they won't be able to use it.

mrpeabody

 

[bonk102]

thanks guys for the info, in less than an hour you two were 10 times more help than my roomate was on the phone w/ d link csr's

 

[Lord Evermore]

For the old school, it's Windows Entertainment Pack.

WEP's primary use is to stop people from getting into your network for whatever reason. The biggest concern for a home user would just be that someone might use your Internet connection for malicious purposes, or just to steal bandwidth.

 

[moolman]

If someone has problems with WEP and they only care about stopping someone from stealing bandwidth but not the data, can using a MAC filter accomplish the same thing of stopping people from using your connection.

Alex

 

[Lord Evermore]

Not entirely, since it's possible to spoof a MAC address. They may be able to get the MAC address from listening to the wireless data, then when that machine isn't connected, spoof the address and now they have access.