User's Manual

WEP Encryption
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 only if it passes a challenge-
based authentication.