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