| Because nobody wants to compromise the
| |
| | mandatory part of the standard.Without a
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| integrity of their network by having some
| |
| | doubt WEP is better than nothing because
|
| hacker "borrow" your bandwidth or gain
| |
| | it will; at least, deter the casual
|
| access and start snooping around you need
| |
| | intruder, who won't try anything more
|
| to lock down your network. Fortunately,
| |
| | than double-clicking to gain access to
|
| encryption is built into wireless
| |
| | your network. In addition, WEP can also
|
| technology; it's simply a matter knowing
| |
| | make you less of a target for wardrivers
|
| how to turn it on.Wired Equivalent
| |
| | because there's so many completely open
|
| Privacy (WEP) or WiFi Protected Access
| |
| | networks that are even easier targets
|
| (WPA)
| |
| | than those using WEP that they simply
|
| The good news is that wireless
| |
| | access them. However, it's silly to use
|
| technology does have pre-built security
| |
| | WEP nowadays (post 2003) when WPA is so
|
| but the bad news is there's a flaw in
| |
| | easily available.Encryption - Turning It
|
| that security. The problem lies in the
| |
| | OnActually turning on encryption in
|
| fact that it's been built upon two
| |
| | Windows is fairly easy. The problem isn't
|
| completely incompatible standards with
| |
| | complexity it's time or aggravation
|
| the result being that it's a pain in the
| |
| | because it does involve a fair amount of
|
| "you know what" to set up a whole network
| |
| | clicking which is probably why so few
|
| to use encryption.Like most new
| |
| | people bother.Step one is to turn on
|
| technologies it starts out using a
| |
| | encryption for your wireless router or
|
| certain standard and then as the
| |
| | access point. The exact method will vary
|
| technology evolves better ways are
| |
| | between devices but you can usually do it
|
| developed that make the original
| |
| | by visiting the router or access point's
|
| technology obsolete. Flaws are also
| |
| | configuration page in your web browser,
|
| exposed in the original standard that
| |
| | find the encryption settings and then
|
| make it less desirable. Problems then
| |
| | choosing WPA. If you have any trouble,
|
| develop as business and individuals
| |
| | refer to your manual.Once you've done
|
| scramble to transition from the old to
| |
| | that, you'll need to change the
|
| the new because during the transition
| |
| | encryption settings on your computers.
|
| there's always equipment and devices that
| |
| | Open the "View Available Wireless
|
| use the old technology and the
| |
| | Networks" screen by right-clicking on
|
| differences usually cause compatibility
| |
| | your wireless connection (bottom right of
|
| issues.WEP was the original standard for
| |
| | your screen) and selecting it from the
|
| encryption over 802.11 wireless networks
| |
| | menu that appears. Next, click "Change
|
| but in 2001 a research paper was
| |
| | advanced settings" go to the Wireless
|
| published entitled: "Weaknesses in the
| |
| | Networks section and click your network's
|
| Key Scheduling Algorithm of RC4" which
| |
| | name and then click Properties.Next,
|
| demonstrated critical flaws in the
| |
| | where it says "Network authentication"
|
| security of WEP that made it rather
| |
| | select WPA and click OK on everything
|
| simple for someone with reasonable know
| |
| | you've opened. Really not that bad but
|
| how to break it and have access to
| |
| | then again, that's not the fun part. The
|
| someone's network.In a nutshell, WEP made
| |
| | fun comes when you get to do this for
|
| it too easy to discover its' secret key
| |
| | "every computer on your network". Sorry
|
| and once you have the key; you can hack
| |
| | to be the bearer of bad news but grab a
|
| in and stay for as long as you want.
| |
| | latte, put your feet up and start
|
| Owners quickly recognized that it was
| |
| | clicking.Easier for New NetworksAs you
|
| virtually useless to use WEP on their
| |
| | can see, the process is your basic "pain
|
| networks but by the time the industry
| |
| | in buns" for existing networks but
|
| discovered the security flaw the WEP
| |
| | fortunately it's much easier for networks
|
| method was built into almost every piece
| |
| | that have not been set up. You still need
|
| of wireless equipment made.Clearly, the
| |
| | to turn on encryption at the wireless
|
| WEP standard had to be replaced and in
| |
| | router or access point but once you've
|
| 2003 WPA was introduced and fortunately
| |
| | done that you can set up encryption using
|
| it fixed most of its predecessor's flaws.
| |
| | the Wireless Network Setup Wizard.You'll
|
| WPA is much more secure than WEP.
| |
| | have to ask Mr. Gates about this one but
|
| Unfortunately, WPA took a long time to
| |
| | for some reason Windows still turns on
|
| reach the market and WPA devices were
| |
| | WEP by default when you set up your
|
| rather expensive when first released. As
| |
| | wireless network. What this means is that
|
| a result, WEP was and still is the
| |
| | each time you go through the wizard,
|
| default in a high percentage of the
| |
| | you'll need to remember to check the box
|
| software being used because it's
| |
| | on the third screen that says "Use WPA
|
| supported by more devices. Now you can
| |
| | encryption instead of WEP". A pain, but
|
| see why we find ourselves in the confused
| |
| | it's still easier than changing the
|
| situation we are today.WPA is the Here
| |
| | settings manually down the road.This
|
| and NowIf you plan on to enable
| |
| | article may be reproduced only in its
|
| encryption, always use WPA. Any devices
| |
| | entirety.Kevin Erickson is an
|
| purchased after 2003 should be WPA
| |
| | entrepreneur and writer.
|
| compatible because the upgrade was made a
| |
| |
|
