User's Manual

Use IEEE 802.11 Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption to prevent
unauthorized reception of wireless data. WEP encryption provides two
levels of security: 64-bit key (sometimes referred to as 40-bit) or a 128-
bit key (also known as 104-bit). For stronger security, use a 128-bit
key. If you use encryption, all wireless devices on your wireless
network must use the same encryption keys.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption and shared authentication
provides protection for your data on the network. WEP uses an
encryption key to encrypt data before transmitting it. Only computers
that use the same encryption key can access the network or decrypt
the encrypted data transmitted by other computers. Authentication
provides an additional validation process from the adapter to the access
point.
The WEP encryption algorithm is vulnerable to passive and active
network attacks. TKIP and CKIP algorithms include enhancements to
the WEP protocol that mitigate existing network attacks and address its
shortcomings.
Open and Shared Key authentication
IEEE 802.11 supports two types of network authentication methods:
Open System and Shared Key.
● When Open authentication is used, any wireless station can
request authentication. The station that needs to authenticate
with another wireless station sends an authentication
management request that contains the identity of the sending
station. The receiving station or access point grants any request
for authentication. Open authentication allows any device network
access. If no encryption is enabled on the network, any device
that knows the Service Set Identifier (SSID) of the access point
can gain access to the network.
● When Shared Key authentication is used, each wireless station is
assumed to have received a secret shared key over a secure
channel that is independent from the 802.11 wireless network
communications channel. Shared key authentication requires that
the client configure a static WEP key. The client access is granted