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General discussion

Strengthening a WEP network

Mar 14, 2005 10:20AM PST

Hi,

I've a 802.11b wireless router that seems to support WEP encryption only. Is there any software that could make the connection more secure? Although I try not to use it, I just don't want to bear any risk if at all possible. Thanks in advance.

Best,
Tsee

Discussion is locked

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Did you...
Mar 14, 2005 10:34AM PST

Employ MAC filtering?

Turn off the SSID broadcast if your system doesn't need it?

Bob

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Yes and no
Mar 22, 2005 11:16AM PST

Yes, I turned on MAC filtering, but am still wondering if someone can take the packets traveling through thin air and figure out how they're being encrypted by WEP, thereby cracking the passwords that may be trasmitted (such as when I log into PC Mag).

I have trouble getting my laptop to log onto my network when SSID is not broadcast. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but can't figure out how.

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And yes.
Mar 22, 2005 8:44PM PST

WEP is breakable. I'm unsure why, with google.com you couldn't just research netstumbler and more about that. The broadcast SSID setting is OVERRATED!!! Think about why it has so little payoff in security. Keep thinking, I'll wait.

Bob

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Does it mean my router's useless?
Mar 23, 2005 12:00PM PST

I can guess from what you've written that WEP is breakable, and I'm guessing that while my wireless session is occurring my SSID can be gleaned from the packets floating around, so I'm wondering, what use is my wireless router?

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It's a commodity product that ...
Mar 23, 2005 8:49PM PST

Couldn't offer airtight (pun intended) security due to export restrictions. Getting past that, you can enable MAC filtering and use WEP/SSID and the more you do, the better off you are.

But if you were expecting solid, never can be hacked security, then you haven't done the homework. Sorry.

Simple MAC filtering, WEP is pretty darn good and only a handful of people I know can attach to such a network and certainly not "script kiddies." Not yet...


Bob

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OK, thanks.
Mar 25, 2005 12:11PM PST

When I bought my router at a great price I'd no intention of using the wireless feature. I got a side job recently that provided me with a pretty neat laptop and was hoping I'd be able to get some good security over the air. Thank you very much for your info.

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Just to make clear
Mar 26, 2005 6:55PM PST

I quote:
I'm wondering, what use is my wireless router?

The router function is NOT intended for security... its only for 'routing' the traffic to specific computer... you only get a bonus from their DHCP sever or NAT firewall ability.