| In previous articles, I describe two methods for | | | | transmission. |
| securing an air-link in today's wireless network | | | | The two primary methods of providing authentication |
| environment consist of encryption and authentication. | | | | and encryption in today's wireless networks are Wired |
| This article goes into more detail on what types of | | | | Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected |
| encryption and authentication are available, which is | | | | Access (WPA). There are additional methods and |
| best and how to activate them on a wireless network. | | | | even multiple versions of these methods but these |
| Most of the latest wireless network devices | | | | two methods are the most popular and prevalent |
| manufactured let you set up both encryption and | | | | among today's wireless equipment. |
| authentication in one step. You determine a network | | | | The first method, WEP, is the older of the two and is |
| key phrase (also known by the following phrases | | | | very vulnerable to hacking. Almost any novice |
| interchangeably - network password, shared secret | | | | computer hacker with a good antenna attached to a |
| keyword, network pass phrase or any variations | | | | wireless adapter and a free software utility, available |
| thereof). | | | | for download in a number of locations on the Web, |
| This shared secret key phrase is a secret set of | | | | can break this form of security. There are certain |
| numbers, letters and/or symbols you create and is only | | | | encryption flaws that make it easy for a hacker to |
| provided to those users that are authorized to access | | | | break your shared secret phrase (the WEP key) and |
| your wireless network. With a shared secret key or | | | | gain unfettered access to your wireless network, your |
| pass phrase, you are able to perform both security | | | | Internet connection and your computer(s). |
| functions: | | | | WPA is the modern recommended solution for locking |
| Authenticate - Users that take the key phrase and | | | | down your Wi-Fi network to unauthorized access. As |
| install it on their wireless network configuration panel | | | | mentioned earlier, there are a number of versions and |
| are allowed to access the network. Any user | | | | variations on WPA but you want to use one of them |
| attempting to access the network without the proper | | | | as they provide a greater level of security than WEP. |
| key phrase will not be granted access into the | | | | So as you continue to work through your wireless |
| wireless network. | | | | network configuration and design, security needs to be |
| Encryption - Your shared secret phrase is also the | | | | a high priority when it comes to selecting your |
| pass phrase used to encrypt all wireless data before | | | | hardware. Make sure ALL your hardware is WPA |
| transmission and enables the information to be | | | | compatible and that they all have the same level of |
| decrypted at the point of reception. Any user that is | | | | security. WEP is better (barely) than nothing but |
| able to receive your transmitted RF signal will only see | | | | always opt for WPA security for your hardware and |
| gibberish on their computer because they do not have | | | | network configuration. |
| the key required to decrypt the contents of the | | | | |