| Because nobody wants to compromise the | | | | because the upgrade was made a mandatory part |
| integrity of their network by having some | | | | of the standard.Without a doubt WEP is better |
| hacker "borrow" your bandwidth or gain access | | | | than nothing because it will; at least, deter |
| and start snooping around you need to lock | | | | the casual intruder, who won't try anything |
| down your network. Fortunately, encryption is | | | | more than double-clicking to gain access to |
| built into wireless technology; it's simply a | | | | your network. In addition, WEP can also make |
| matter knowing how to turn it on.Wired | | | | you less of a target for wardrivers because |
| Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or WiFi Protected | | | | there's so many completely open networks that |
| Access (WPA) | | | | are even easier targets than those using WEP |
| | | | that they simply access them. However, it's |
| The good news is that wireless technology | | | | silly to use WEP nowadays (post 2003) when |
| does have pre-built security but the bad news | | | | WPA is so easily available.Encryption - |
| is there's a flaw in that security. The | | | | Turning It OnActually turning on encryption |
| problem lies in the fact that it's been built | | | | in Windows is fairly easy. The problem isn't |
| upon two completely incompatible standards | | | | complexity it's time or aggravation because |
| with the result being that it's a pain in the | | | | it does involve a fair amount of clicking |
| "you know what" to set up a whole network to | | | | which is probably why so few people |
| use encryption.Like most new technologies it | | | | bother.Step one is to turn on encryption for |
| starts out using a certain standard and then | | | | your wireless router or access point. The |
| as the technology evolves better ways are | | | | exact method will vary between devices but |
| developed that make the original technology | | | | you can usually do it by visiting the router |
| obsolete. Flaws are also exposed in the | | | | or access point's configuration page in your |
| original standard that make it less | | | | web browser, find the encryption settings and |
| desirable. Problems then develop as business | | | | then choosing WPA. If you have any trouble, |
| and individuals scramble to transition from | | | | refer to your manual.Once you've done that, |
| the old to the new because during the | | | | you'll need to change the encryption settings |
| transition there's always equipment and | | | | on your computers. Open the "View Available |
| devices that use the old technology and the | | | | Wireless Networks" screen by right-clicking |
| differences usually cause compatibility | | | | on your wireless connection (bottom right of |
| issues.WEP was the original standard for | | | | your screen) and selecting it from the menu |
| encryption over 802.11 wireless networks but | | | | that appears. Next, click "Change advanced |
| in 2001 a research paper was published | | | | settings" go to the Wireless Networks section |
| entitled: "Weaknesses in the Key Scheduling | | | | and click your network's name and then click |
| Algorithm of RC4" which demonstrated critical | | | | Properties.Next, where it says "Network |
| flaws in the security of WEP that made it | | | | authentication" select WPA and click OK on |
| rather simple for someone with reasonable | | | | everything you've opened. Really not that bad |
| know how to break it and have access to | | | | but then again, that's not the fun part. The |
| someone's network.In a nutshell, WEP made it | | | | fun comes when you get to do this for "every |
| too easy to discover its' secret key and once | | | | computer on your network". Sorry to be the |
| you have the key; you can hack in and stay | | | | bearer of bad news but grab a latte, put your |
| for as long as you want. Owners quickly | | | | feet up and start clicking.Easier for New |
| recognized that it was virtually useless to | | | | NetworksAs you can see, the process is your |
| use WEP on their networks but by the time the | | | | basic "pain in buns" for existing networks |
| industry discovered the security flaw the WEP | | | | but fortunately it's much easier for networks |
| method was built into almost every piece of | | | | that have not been set up. You still need to |
| wireless equipment made.Clearly, the WEP | | | | turn on encryption at the wireless router or |
| standard had to be replaced and in 2003 WPA | | | | access point but once you've done that you |
| was introduced and fortunately it fixed most | | | | can set up encryption using the Wireless |
| of its predecessor's flaws. WPA is much more | | | | Network Setup Wizard.You'll have to ask Mr. |
| secure than WEP. Unfortunately, WPA took a | | | | Gates about this one but for some reason |
| long time to reach the market and WPA devices | | | | Windows still turns on WEP by default when |
| were rather expensive when first released. As | | | | you set up your wireless network. What this |
| a result, WEP was and still is the default in | | | | means is that each time you go through the |
| a high percentage of the software being used | | | | wizard, you'll need to remember to check the |
| because it's supported by more devices. Now | | | | box on the third screen that says "Use WPA |
| you can see why we find ourselves in the | | | | encryption instead of WEP". A pain, but it's |
| confused situation we are today.WPA is the | | | | still easier than changing the settings |
| Here and NowIf you plan on to enable | | | | manually down the road.This article may be |
| encryption, always use WPA. Any devices | | | | reproduced only in its entirety.Kevin |
| purchased after 2003 should be WPA compatible | | | | Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. |