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Chapter 7 Wireless LAN
NBG-460N User’s Guide
100
Unauthorized devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless
network, even if they cannot use the wireless network. Furthermore, there are
ways for unauthorized wireless users to get a valid user name and password.
Then, they can use that user name and password to use the wireless network.
Local user databases also have an additional limitation that is explained in the
next section.
7.3.1.4 Encryption
Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the
wireless network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret
code, you cannot understand the message.
The types of encryption you can choose depend on the type of user
authentication. (See Section 7.3.1.3 on page 99 for information about this.)
For example, if the wireless network has a RADIUS server, you can choose WPA
or WPA2. If users do not log in to the wireless network, you can choose no
encryption, Static WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK.
Usually, you should set up the strongest encryption that every wireless client in
the wireless network supports. For example, suppose the AP does not have a local
user database, and you do not have a RADIUS server. Therefore, there is no user
authentication. Suppose the wireless network has two wireless clients. Device A
only supports WEP, and device B supports WEP and WPA. Therefore, you should
set up Static WEP in the wireless network.
Note: It is recommended that wireless networks use WPA-PSK, WPA, or stronger
encryption. IEEE 802.1x and WEP encryption are better than none at all, but it
is still possible for unauthorized devices to figure out the original information
pretty quickly.
Note: It is not possible to use WPA-PSK, WPA or stronger encryption with a local
user database. In this case, it is better to set up stronger encryption with no
authentication than to set up weaker encryption with the local user database.
When you select WPA2 or WPA2-PSK in your NBG-460N, you can also select an
option (WPA Compatible) to support WPA as well. In this case, if some wireless
Table 28 Types of Encryption for Each Type of Authentication
NO AUTHENTICATION RADIUS SERVER
Weakest No Security WPA
Static WEP
WPA-PSK
Stronges
t
WPA2-PSK WPA2