WI-GTWY-9-xxx Wireless Gateway V1.18
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If you do not enable security, there will be no data encryption of the radio messages. This is
the default setting.
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If a security key has been entered, this key is downloaded into each module as part of the
configuration download process. You can download another configuration at any time - if
the security key is different, or if there is no security key in the new configuration, the old key
will be over-written.
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You can change the security key in the configuration files simply by entering a new security
key in the security key window. You will be prompted to confirm the new security key.
Note that if you change the security key, it will not match the security key previously loaded
into existing modules.
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If you want to change a configuration, we recommend that you change the archived
configuration, and then download the configuration onto the module. The archived
configuration already has the valid security key.
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If you lose the archived configuration, you can upload the configuration from a module, but
you cannot upload a security key. That is, you can upload the module configuration, view it,
change it - but if you don’t know the original security key, the old key will be over-written
when you download the new configuration. This module will no longer communicate with
other modules in the system as the security key is different.
Warning!!
These security options provide a high level of security, but no data-security system can
provide “100% protection”. But it does make it very difficult for someone to interfere
with the WI-I/O 9-x system - difficult to the point where there would be many easier
alternate ways to cause malicious damage.
The password must be kept in a secure place. Security procedures need to be adopted. If
staff with access to the password leave your organization, we recommend that the password
be changed.
We recommend that you use a random 8-character string for the security key and that you
do not record the key. It is not necessary to know what the security key is. The key will be
recorded in the archived configuration files, and therefore the configuration files should be
held in a secure place and backed up.
The security key does not prevent a hacker uploading a configuration from a module and
downloading with a new security key. This module will no longer operate with other
modules in the system. To prevent this, unauthorized access to modules must be prevented.
The security options provide security against a “hacker” in the following way:
A hacker cannot listen-in to radio messages without the security key to decrypt the radio
messages. Similarly, a hacker cannot force outputs by transmitting a radio message to a
module without the security key.
A hacker cannot access the security key from an installed module or from the configuration
files.
