New Wireless Network

[JGatsby]

Okay, so I turned off the SSID broadcast and and set up a MAC filter, but what should I use for encryption?

I started with 64 bit, then moved to 128 bit WEP. Now I've gone to WPA-PSK. Is WPA-PSK better then WEP? What's the difference between the two?

Thanks!

[Renaissance Man]

Short answer: use WPA-PSK with a long and memorable (to you) pre-shared key.

Long answer: WEP uses a single key for all data encryption. Given enough time, a malicious individual can break it just by observing your traffic. Google has a lot of info on this.

WPA has a mechanism to change the encryption key periodically, so that even if someone observes your traffic, they cannot accumulate enough information to break the encryption. To accomplish this, WPA-PSK uses a pre-shared key. Since the PSK is used comparatively very infrequently (only when renegotiating encryption keys), it is difficult to build up enough information to break it.

[JGatsby]

Sweet. Thanks for the info RM!

[Wannabe Actuary]

Originally Posted by Renaissance Man

Short answer: use WPA-PSK with a long and memorable (to you) pre-shared key.

Long answer: WEP uses a single key for all data encryption. Given enough time, a malicious individual can break it just by observing your traffic. Google has a lot of info on this.

WPA has a mechanism to change the encryption key periodically, so that even if someone observes your traffic, they cannot accumulate enough information to break the encryption. To accomplish this, WPA-PSK uses a pre-shared key. Since the PSK is used comparatively very infrequently (only when renegotiating encryption keys), it is difficult to build up enough information to break it.

Is it worth the time/effort to change it? I live in an apartment building and there are open networks my wireless cards detect. Mine doesn't broadcast the SSID and uses the MAC filtering along with the 128 encryption (I have an option for 256 if I want). Given that others have completely open networks, and mine would take time and a lot of effort, should I take the time to change it?

Thanks.

[Renaissance Man]

Originally Posted by Wannabe Actuary

Is it worth the time/effort to change it? I live in an apartment building and there are open networks my wireless cards detect. Mine doesn't broadcast the SSID and uses the MAC filtering along with the 128 encryption (I have an option for 256 if I want). Given that others have completely open networks, and mine would take time and a lot of effort, should I take the time to change it?

Thanks.

That's up to you. If I were in your situation, I'd enjoy the luxury of having easier targets as neighbors and change to WPA as the opportunity came up.

[Wannabe Actuary]

Originally Posted by Renaissance Man

That's up to you. If I were in your situation, I'd enjoy the luxury of having easier targets as neighbors and change to WPA as the opportunity came up.

That's what I was basically thinking.

How difficult/easy is it to set up WPA?

[Renaissance Man]

Originally Posted by Wannabe Actuary

That's what I was basically thinking.

How difficult/easy is it to set up WPA?

It should be about as easy as setting up WEP. You have to enable WPA-PSK on the access point and all clients and enter the pre-shared key. This is all provided your setup supports it (it should with up-to-date drivers).

[Wannabe Actuary]

Originally Posted by Renaissance Man

It should be about as easy as setting up WEP. You have to enable WPA-PSK on the access point and all clients and enter the pre-shared key. This is all provided your setup supports it (it should with up-to-date drivers).

Thanks RM...I'll have to check this out tonight....With all the snow coming my way I'll just be in watching college hoops after work.

[Expunge]

Originally Posted by Wannabe Actuary

Is it worth the time/effort to change it? I live in an apartment building and there are open networks my wireless cards detect. Mine doesn't broadcast the SSID and uses the MAC filtering along with the 128 encryption (I have an option for 256 if I want). Given that others have completely open networks, and mine would take time and a lot of effort, should I take the time to change it?

Thanks.

Why are you paying for internet access then?

[vbnut]

Originally Posted by Expunge

Why are you paying for internet access then?

Assuming the neighbor's network is not secure - Don't you need to have a valid user name and password to log onto it?