Current encryption technology offers 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption. If you are using 64-bit
WEP, swap out
your old wireless units for 128-bit encryption right away. Where encryption is concerned, the
bigger and more
complex, the better. A WEP key is a string of hexadecimal characters that your wireless network
uses in two
ways. First, nodes in your wireless network are identified with a common WEP key. Second, these
WEP keys
encrypt and decrypt data sent over your wireless network. So, a higher level of security ensures
that hackers will
have a harder time breaking into your network.
Setting one, static WEP key on your wireless network leaves your network open the threats even
as you think it is
protecting you. While it is true that using a WEP key increases wireless security, you can increase
it further by
using multiple WEP keys.
Keep in mind that WEP keys are stored in the firmware of wireless cards and access points and
can be used to
hack into the network if a card or access point falls into the wrong hands. Also, should someone
hack into your
network, there would be nothing preventing someone access to the entire network, using just one
static key.
The solution, then, is to segment your network up into multiple groups. If your network had 80
users and you
used four WEP keys, a hacker would have access to only ¼ of your wireless network resources. In
this way,
multiple keys reduce your liability.
Finally, be sure to change your WEP key regularly, once a week or once a day. Using a "dynamic"
WEP key, rather
than one that is static, makes it even harder for a hacker to break into your network and steal your
resources.
2.4GHz/802.11b and 802.11g WEP Encryption
WEP encryption for the is configured through the Web-Utility's Wireless tab.
Enable
WEP
from this tab and click the
Edit WEP Setting
s button, which will open the WEP
screen, shown in
Figure B-3.
From this screen, you can select the type of WEP encryption to use as well as set the WEP Key for
that encryption.
Select which WEP key (1-4) will be used when the Router sends data, then select that number as
the Default
Transmit Key. Make sure the receiving device is using the same key.
Select the level of WEP encryption you wish to use, 64-bit 10 hex digits or 128-bit 26 hex digits.
Higher encryption
levels offer higher levels of security, but due to the complexity of the encryption, they may
decrease network
performance.
If you wish to use a WEP Passphrase, it can be a maximum of 16 alphanumeric characters. This
passphrase may
not work with non-Neo-Meridian products due to possible incompatibility with other vendors'
passphrase generators.
The WEP Key can be generated using your Passphrase or you can enter it manually.
If you wish to enter the WEP Key manually, type the key into the appropriate Key field on the left.
The WEP key
must consist of the letters "A" through "F" and the numbers "0" through "9" and should be 10
characters in
