sent across a radio link.
2. What is WEP ?
Wired Equivalent Privacy. WEP is a security mechanism defined within the
802.11 standard and designed to make the security of the wireless medium
equal to that of a cable (wire). WEP data encryption was designed to prevent
access to the network by "intruders" and to prevent the capture of wireless
LAN traffic through eavesdropping. WEP allows the administrator to define a
set of respective "Keys" for each wireless network user based on a "Key
String" passed through the WEP encryption algorithm. Access is denied by
anyone who does not have an assigned key. WEP comes in 40/64-bit and 128-
bit encryption key lengths. Note, WEP has shown to have fundamental flaws in
its key generation processing.
3. What is the difference between 40-bit and 64-bit WEP ?
40 bit WEP & 64 bit WEP are the same encryption level and can interoperate.
The lower level of WEP encryption uses a 40 bit (10 Hex character) as "secret
key" (set by user), and a 24 bit " Initialization Vector " (not under user control)
(40+24=64). Some vendors refer to this level of WEP as 40 bit, others as 64 bit.
4. What is a WEP key ?
A WEP key is a user defined string of characters used to encrypt and decrypt
data.
5. A WEP key is a user defined string of characters used to encrypt and
decrypt data ?
No. 128-bit WEP will not communicate with 64-bit WEP. Although 128 bit
WEP also uses a 24 bit Initialization Vector, but it uses a 104 bit as secret key.
Users need to use the same encryption level in order to make a connection.
6. Can the SSID be encrypted ?
WEP, the encryption standard for 802.11, only encrypts the data packets not
the 802.11 management packets and the SSID is in the beacon and probe
management messages. The SSID is not encrypted if WEP is turned on. The
SSID goes over the air in clear text. This makes obtaining the SSID easy by
sniffing 802.11 wireless traffic.
7. By turning off the broadcast of SSID, can someone still sniff the SSID ?
Many APs by default have broadcasting the SSID turned on. Sniffers typically
