Using the MyEssentials Wireless Networking Utility
18
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
is a less secure, but more widely
adopted wireless security protocol. Depending on the security level (64-
or 128-bit), the user will be asked to input a 10- or
26-character hex key. A hex key is a combination of letters, a–f,
and numbers, 0–9.
Wireless Protected Access (WPA)
is the new standard in the
wireless security. However, not all wireless cards and adapters support
this technology. Please check your wireless adapter’s user manual
to check if it supports WPA. Instead of a hex key, WPA uses only
passphrases, which are much easier to remember.
The following section, intended for the home, home-office, and
small-office user, presents a few different ways to maximize the security
of your wireless network.
At the time of publication, four encryption methods
are available:
Encryption Methods:
Name
64-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
128-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
Wi-Fi Protected
Access-TKIP
Wi-Fi Protected
Access 2
Acronym
64-bit WEP
128-bit WEP
WPA-TKIP/AES
(or just WPA)
WPA2-AES (or
just WPA2)
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
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
WEP is a common protocol that adds security to all Wi-Fi-compliant
wireless products. WEP gives wireless networks the equivalent level of
privacy protection as a comparable wired network.
