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An acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is an encryption method
used to protect your wireless data communications. WEP uses a combination
of 64-bit or 128-bit keys to provide access control to your network and
encryption security for every data transmission. To decode a data transmission,
each point in a network must use an identical 64-bit or 128-bit key. Higher
encryption levels mean higher levels of security, but due to the
complexity of the encryption, they may mean decreased network performance.
You may also have heard the term “40-bit” used in conjunction with WEP
encryption. This is simply another term for 64-bit WEP encryption. This
level of WEP encryption has been called 40-bit because it uses a 40-bit secret
key along with a 24-bit Initialization Vector (40 + 24 = 64). Wireless vendors
may use either name. Linksys uses the term “64-bit” when referring to this
level of encryption.
Make sure your wireless network is functioning before attempting to configure
WEP encryption.
A 128-bit WEP encrypted wireless network will NOT communicate with a
64-bit WEP encrypted wireless network. Therefore, make sure that all of
your wireless devices are using the same encryption level. All wireless
devices complying with the 802.11b standard will support 64-bit WEP.
In addition to enabling WEP, Linksys also recommends the following security
implementations:
• Changing the SSID from the default “linksys”
• Changing the WEP key regularly
Note: WEP encryption is an additional data security measure and not
essential for router operation.
Note: In order for WEP Encryption to be enabled, wireless functions must first
be enabled. Select Enable on the Router’s Wireless tab before proceeding.
Configuring Wireless Security
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The following steps will show you how to utilize WEP encryption
1. From the Web-based Utility’s Setup tab, select Mandatory under the
WEP section.
2. Press the WEP Key Setting button to set the WEP Encryption type and
level.
3. The screen dis-
played in Figure
C-1 may appear,
verifying that
you are enabling
WEP Encryption.
Press the OK
button to continue.
4. This will display the screen shown in Figure C-2. From this screen, you
will choose your WEP Encryption settings.
Figure C-2
Figure C-1
Instant Wireless™ Series
Wireless Access Point Router with 4-Port Switch