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4.2.3 Wireless: Security
Security Mode
Unless one of these encryption modes is selected, wireless transmissions to and from your
wireless network can be easily intercepted and interpreted by unauthorized users.
WEP
A method of encrypting data for wireless communication intended to provide the same level of
privacy as a wired network. WEP is not as secure as WPA encryption. To gain access to a
WEP network, you must know the key. The key is a string of characters that you create. When
using WEP, you must determine the level of encryption. The type of encryption determines the
key length. 128-bit encryption requires a longer key than 64-bit encryption. Keys are defined by
entering in a string in HEX (hexadecimal - using characters 0-9, A-F) or ASCII (American
Standard Code for Information Interchange - alphanumeric characters) format. ASCII format is
provided so you can enter a string that is easier to remember. The ASCII string is converted to
HEX for use over the network. Four keys can be defined so that you can change keys easily. A
default key is selected for use on the network.
Key Length Hex ASCII
64-bit 10 characters 5 characters
128-bit 26 characters 13 characters
WPA-Personal and WPA-Enterprise
Both of these options select some variant of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) -- security
standards published by the Wi-Fi Alliance. The WPA Mode further refines the variant that the
router should employ.
WPA Mode: WPA is the older standard; select this option if the clients that will be used with the
router only support the older standard. WPA2 is the newer implementation of the stronger
IEEE 802.11i security standard. With the "WPA2" option, the router tries WPA2 first, but falls
back to WPA if the client only supports WPA. With the "WPA2 Only" option, the router
associates only with clients that also support WPA2 security.
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