F5D7234-4 v4 Wireless G Router User Manual Rev1
Page 27 of 61
Security Good
Better
Best
Best
Features Static keys
Static keys
Dynamic key
encryption and
mutual
authentication
Dynamic key
encryption and
mutual
authentication
Encryption
keys based
on RC4
algorithm
(typically 40-
bit keys)
More secure
than 64-bit
WEP using a
key length of
104 bits plus
24 additional
bits of system-
generated data
TKIP (Temporal
Key Integrity
Protocol) added
so that keys are
rotated and
encryption is
strengthened
AES (Advanced
Encryption
Standard) does
not cause any
throughput loss
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
WEP is a common protocol that adds security to all Wi-Fi-compliant wireless
products. WEP was designed to give wireless networks the equivalent level of
privacy protection as a comparable wired network.
64-Bit WEP
64-bit WEP was first introduced with 64-bit encryption, which includes a key
length of 40 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated data (64 bits total).
Some hardware manufacturers refer to 64-bit as 40-bit encryption. Shortly after
the technology was introduced, researchers found that 64-bit encryption was too
easy to decode.
128-Bit WEP
As a result of 64-bit WEP’s potential security weaknesses, a more secure
method of 128-bit encryption was developed. 128-bit encryption includes a key
length of 104 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated data (128 bits total).
Some hardware manufacturers refer to 128-bit as 104-bit encryption.
Most of the new wireless equipment in the market today supports both 64-bit and
128-bit WEP encryption, but you might have older equipment that only supports
64-bit WEP. All Belkin wireless products will support both 64-bit and 128-bit WEP.
Encryption Keys
After selecting either the 64-bit or 128-bit WEP encryption mode, it is critical that
you generate an encryption key. If the encryption key is not consistent throughout
the entire wireless network, your wireless networking devices will be unable to
communicate with one another on your network and you will not be able to
successfully communicate within your network.
