WEP and WPA-PSK security

y2jmocho

Hi, help please!

can someone tell me what WEP and WPA-PSK is? which would you recommend for a home user using a wireless router (netgear dg834gt)?

Also can someone give a step-by-step guide on how to use the type of security you recommend.

thank you!

espresso

Use WPA-PSK in preference to WEP which is old and crackable. The user manual tells you how to enter the pass-phrase to make it secure.

albertross_2

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471408&postcount=37

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471410&postcount=38

Gadge_2

I have seen some very smart bunnies crack WEP in three minutes, use WPA-PSK and a hard password!!

also limit the scope of your DHCP or better still turn it off, and use MAC address filtering, but one of the best methods I saw for limiting the Access point from war drivers was to turn the thing off with a cheap 24 hour timer!!!

CAT-THE-FIFTH

Won't stop a pro though!!

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2006/08/30/defcon2006_janus_project/

albertross_2

That's why you have to use a long 63 character random wpa key.., and change your ssid from the default.

This is secure from cracking (currently).

other

on mine:
changed ssid to unusual words/characters
not broadcasting ssid
mac address filtering (telling the router which mac addresses to allow)
WPA-PSK TKIP (lol...) password with letters and numbers - couldn't be bothered to make it 60 odd characters to type in every time a new mac address comes along

didn't bother with Demilitarised zone (it's only a home network ) or anything else too complicated.

I think that's as much you need unless you live next door to some hackers

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oops back to the original topic
choose WPA unless you have other network cards that only support WEP (some integrated laptop wireless cards)
you just choose a string of characters on the router config screens, and then you enter that in each computer when setting up the connection