PC Help Request

I have received quite a few questions regarding the encryption of wireless networks. (This is a good sign! It means that people are well aware of their need to protect their computing resources and private information.) There are a couple of choices for wireless encryption, so I’ll cover what I can. There may be an instance where a manufacturer comes up with their own solution as an option in addition to the standards. I can not cover all of these possibilities so I’m going to stick to the standard Pre-Shared Key (PSK) standards: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP); Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA); and WPA2.

Router configuration is done through a web browser that connects to the wireless router. Traditionally this is done by typing the IP Address of the router into the address bar; the address is usually 192.168.1.1 but may be slightly different. Check your user manual for the proper address. Under the security settings there will be a section for encryption. If you can not see WPA or WPA2, you should upgrade the firmware of the router. The firmware can be downloaded from the manufacturers website, and the directions are available in the manual or also on the website. Newer routers should already have WPA and WPA2 available.
PSK encryption is what is normally used in small business offices and personal networks. It just means that every user of a wireless network must use a passkey to connect to the wireless access point. Strong password rules apply when picking a passkey. Use numbers, lower case letters, upper case letters, or even a phrase or sentence. Windows will normally request this when first connecting to a wireless network.

WEP is the weakest encryption used for Wi-Fi and should be avoided. WEP can be cracked in under a minute, giving the cracker access to your network. This in turn opens up your computer to the cracker for exploitation. If you have no choice but to use WEP, use a strong key. Use 128-bit Hexadecimal (0-9, A-F); make sure the keys are 26 characters long and not easy to guess. Do not make it all ‘A’s, for example.

WPA was the answer to the WEP security problem. WPA can use a passphrase or a hex number. The passphrase is easiest for most people, but always apply strong password rules. WPA passwords can be brute forced just like any other password, so make sure it’s strong. Sentences and phrases are much better than simple words. WPA passphrases can have as many as 54 letters. The encryption and the verification process is much better than WEP.

WPA2 is the second implementation of WPA. Current commercial products must implement WPA2 in order to have the term Wi-Fi printed on the box. WPA2 is similar to WPA; however, the encryption and verification process is even stronger than in WPA. If WPA2 is available to you, use it. Upgrade software and firmware if you need to. WPA2 is the best layer of security for wireless networks that home users can get their hands on.