User Manual

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2
Security
This chapter describes setting up security using the Atheros Client Utility (ACU). See the
Atheros Client Utility Online Help for more information on configuring the security settings
using the ACU.
While using the client adapter, encrypting data can protect it as it is transmitted through
the wireless network.
The ACU allows connection profiles of:
■ No security (not recommended)
Link encryption/decryption is disabled, no keys are installed.
■ WPA/WPA2 security
Enables the use of wi-fi protected access (WPA). This option requires IT administration.
This option includes the EAP (with dynamic wired equivalent privacy (WEP) keys) security
protocols: extensible authentication protocol (EAP), protected EAP (PEAP), and
lightweight EAP (LEAP).
WPA/WPA2 is a standard-based, interoperable security enhancement that provides data
protection and access control for wireless LAN systems. It is derived from the IEEE
802.11i standard. WPA/WPA2 leverages Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) and
Michael message integrity check (MIC) for data protection, and 802.1X for authenticated
key management.
WPA/WPA2 supports two mutually exclusive key management types: WPA/WPA2 and
WPA/WPA2 passphrase (also known as WPA-Pre Shared Key (PSK)). Using WPA/WPA2,
clients and the authentication server authenticate to each other using an EAP
authentication method, and the client and server generate a pairwise master key (PMK).
The server generates the PMK dynamically and passes it to the access point (AP).
■
WPA-PSK security
Enables WPA passphrase security (also known as WPA-Pre Shared Key (PSK)).