As I see it there are two separate security issues when it comes to wireless networking (wifi not wimax). First is the ability to stop a freeloader from your WAN and start piggybacking off of your nickel. I believe this is what WEP and WPA are for, correct? In other words blocking an unauthorized user on your wifi wan.
Secondly, a more serious concern, is the ability to snoop into your WAN and see all data traffic. Sensitive things such as cred card numb, pswds stuff like that. Does WEP and WPA and WAP apply here too? If not then what does? VPNs is one solution.
I’m a bit confused to which to apply when. Thanks!
Pls read carefully. My question is not how to set up the security options. My question is what are the DIFFERENCES in wifi security?
Login to your router config page, usually one of the following:
192.168.2.1
192.168.1.1
192.168.1.0
The router config utilty will load.
Default login is either blank as is password or Admin for login and Admin for password..
Depending on your router you need to find the location of the password settings and change it to one you will remember.
Under Channel and SSID, in SSID box give your connection a unique name, Untick Broadcast SSID, Protected Mode should be On.
Again Apply Changes.
Then click Security, in Security Mode select WPA, WPA (PSK) or WPA 2, do not use WEP as it is too weak.
Encryption Technique set to AES
Pre-shared Key (PSK) is where you enter your password for other computers to connect to your network.
Make this different to your login password and tick Obscure PSK, Apply Changes
Click on Use as Access Point and select Disable, Apply Changes.
Click on MAC address filtering and enter the MAC address of each computer that will be allowed access to your network, Apply Changes.
WAN Ping Blocking, tick Block ICMP Ping, Apply Changes.
Then Logout.
For each computer that connects to your network they will need the network name (SSID) and password (Pre-shared Key (PSK)
WEP has been around for years and with the right tools (available on the internet) is fairly easy to crack. Since all modern wireless devices provide WPA there is no point in using WEP. However, WPA as used in most homes, without a radius server, is also prone to things like dictionary attacks. So if your WPA key is something like “flyinghome” then you are really no more secure than with WEP. However is you use a full length totally random key then the level of security gets pretty high.
However, WEP adn WPA are only what is used to secure the wireless. Once your data reaches the router it is no longer encrypted and is subject to security issues. Therefore the optimum approach to security is to use WPA and a personal vpn to encrypt all of your local data. The VPN ensures that anyone snooping anywhere on the network cannot read your data.
Look at it this way. The WPA keep outsiders from using your network. The VPN secures your data while on the local network.