Wep/wpa-psk

J

jayjay2800

New Member
Hi there...what is the difference to the above, I know that WPA-PSK is simply just setting a password to use if you are logging on from a wireless machine onto the network, how is WEP different?
 
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3552826

Here's a better explination than I could give off the top of my head... But basically, WEP is very unsecure. Unless you have a dynamic WEP, someone could crack it fairly easy.

If you want a very secure network, you may consider doing what I do... I don't have any WEP, WPA, or anything like that... Simply, I don't broadcast my SSID and I filter mac addresses. Thus, only my computers(and a select few others) can connect to my router.
 
The router still has an SSID, but it's just not sent out... With windows Zero-Config stuff, you just need to type in the settings and what not. When your in range, it should find it. Or with what I use, I can see the router, but I must enter a name before I may connect. I just setup a profile and it automatically connects when I cut wifi on...
 
The_Other_One said:
If you want a very secure network, you may consider doing what I do... I don't have any WEP, WPA, or anything like that... Simply, I don't broadcast my SSID and I filter mac addresses. Thus, only my computers(and a select few others) can connect to my router.
Click to expand...

If I were you I'd still use some sort of encryption, because getting around MAC filtering isn't too challenging. But I do agree that not broadcasting your SSID is a good idea.
 
INTELCRAZY said:
Use WPA if you're not going to be really needing the speed. I use WPA, for my clients and myself, no problem.
Click to expand...

Your clients, how old are you? I was under the impression you were a younger kid still in school, no offense of course.

In all honesty, a lot of people will tell you WEP is insecure, and well it is to a certain extent. There are known crackers out there that will allow you to eventually crack into the encryption, but that doesn't allow them access to anything but your router, and if your router is password protected they would have to crack that as well. Which is all accomplished with ready available downloadable tools.

However, really, I want to say 95% of people who tell you this wouldn't know the first thing about what to do after cracking the encryption. I, myself have tried to crack WEP and even though I was successful doing it, I never gained root access of a secured system remotely. It is A LOT harder than it sounds.

However, since setting up WPA and WEP take about the same number of steps it would be more wise to configure your wireless network with WPA. WPA is still vulnerable to some various forms of attacks, but so far has not been cracked yet. Not to mention somebody would really have to want to get access to whatever it is you have to cause all the trouble of tracking down your personal address, sitting outside your home, and attempting to hack into your network. I would say if anything, the most likely culprit would be some punk 12 year old kid who read online you could hack wireless networks, and would probably never gain access or cause more damage than good. The latter reason being enough to secure your network I suppose.

No matter what your wifi AP is constantly broadcasting packets. The only thing the SSID does, is give your network a name so that any clients searching for connections can pick it up. Even taking out the SSID does not hide your wifi network from a stumbler. Having an SSID is probably fine. I would say for the most part if it is a home network just putting up any kind of encryption is good enough, but if you have support for WPA you might as well use it considering it takes the same amount of time and effert to set up as WEP.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top