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