Wireless security

[hennessy1]

I have a wap4400n access point i had set up with only only wep setup i found out that someone has gotten through it its not surpriseing becuase of the low level security but I set it up that way for ease of use but nvm that. I am now going to change it to WPA2-personal mixed. On the setup screen it asks for a shared secret what exactly does that mean. For wep I just typed in a phrase and it generated a key. Does it want a phrase or a key? The key renewal is set up for every 3600secs. Is that ok as well or change it to sooner?

 

[hennessy1]

anyone?

 

[JackMDS]

It means a phrase like password.

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html

 

[Rottie]

yes it does want passphase/key (password) ..any key you can use for password. I usually change/renewal every 2 months or so. WPA or WPA2 is better than WEP.

 

[spyordie007]

WPA or WPA2 is better than WEP.

Without a doubt, yes!