Belkin F5D7234-4 Network Router User Manual


 
49
Wireless G Router
SECTIONSTable of Contents 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 106
USING THE WEB-BASED ADVANCED USER INTERFACE
Securing your Wi-Fi
®
Network
Here are a few different ways you can maximize the security of your
wireless network and protect your data from prying eyes and ears. This
section is intended for the home, home office, and small office user.
At the time of this User Manual’s publication, there are four encryption
methods available.
Name
64-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
128-Bit Wired
Equivalent
Privacy
Wi-Fi Protected
Access-TKIP
Wi-Fi Protected
Access 2
Acronym 64-bit WEP 128-bit WEP
WPA-TKIP/AES (or
just WPA)
WPA2-AES (or just
WPA2)
Security Good Better Best Best
Features Static keys Static keys
Dynamic key
encryption
and mutual
authentication
Dynamic key
encryption
and mutual
authentication
Encryption
keys based on
RC4 algorithm
(typically
40-bit keys)
More secure
than 64-bit
WEP using a
key length of
104 bits plus
24 additional
bits of system-
generated
data
TKIP (Temporal
Key Integrity
Protocol) added
so that keys
are rotated and
encryption is
strengthened
AES (Advanced
Encryption
Standard) does
not cause any
throughput loss
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
WEP is a common protocol that adds security to all Wi-Fi-compliant
wireless products. WEP was designed to give wireless networks the
equivalent level of privacy protection as a comparable wired network.
64-Bit WEP
64-bit WEP was first introduced with 64-bit encryption, which includes
a key length of 40 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated data
(64 bits total). Some hardware manufacturers refer to 64-bit as 40-bit
encryption. Shortly after the technology was introduced, researchers
found that 64-bit encryption was too easy to decode.
128-Bit WEP
As a result of 64-bit WEP’s potential security weaknesses, a more
secure method of 128-bit encryption was developed. 128-bit encryption
includes a key length of 104 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-
generated data (128 bits total). Some hardware manufacturers refer to
128-bit as 104-bit encryption.
Most of the new wireless equipment in the market today supports both
64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption, but you might have older equipment
that only supports 64-bit WEP. All Belkin wireless products will support
both 64-bit and 128-bit WEP.