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Please confirm "weak link" idea of wireless encryption standard
self

Posted on 10/14/2006 6:25:38 AM PDT by rudy45

I think my understanding is correct, but want to make sure. Suppose I have a wireless network. All of the computers but one are capable of supporting WPA. That one computer supports only WEP, either due to the operating system or the card it has.

Am I correct that - If I want this one computer to be on the wireless network the way it is, EVERYONE ELSE also has to be WEP? - Conversely, if this computer remains the way it is, but I really DO want everyone to to WPA, then this one computer either has to upgrade, or has to be excluded?

In other words, everyone on the network has to have the same encryption? Mixing of encryption is prohibited? Thanks.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computer; lan; network; wireless

1 posted on 10/14/2006 6:25:40 AM PDT by rudy45
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To: rudy45
Mixing of encryption is prohibited?

That's just a limitation of the wireless router.

2 posted on 10/14/2006 6:30:33 AM PDT by Michael Goldsberry (Lt. Bruce C. Fryar USN 01-02-70 Laos)
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To: rudy45

I think you'll need two Wireless Access points. Ending up with two wireless networks, one with WPA and one with WEP. The back end of them can be connected to your cable modem, DSL, whatever. But it should work...


3 posted on 10/14/2006 6:42:01 AM PDT by tje
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To: rudy45
I would upgrade the card that's on WEP and use WPA exclusively. If your AP is typical of most that are sold for residential, you can only use one security standard for all connecting devices. At least this is the way I understand it.
4 posted on 10/14/2006 6:45:33 AM PDT by KoRn
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To: rudy45

It depends on the access point and router, some can have multiple SSIDs with different levels of encryption others can't.


5 posted on 10/14/2006 6:47:10 AM PDT by CJ Wolf
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To: rudy45

Are you really doing something that you think people are going to hack into?

If not, just use WEP, and set up for mac address restriction and a private network. That will stop anybody who's just cruising for a free access point.

Someone would have to be targetting you specifically and want to spend some real time and effort on it to break into a mac-protected network, with or without WEP.


6 posted on 10/14/2006 8:19:58 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: rudy45

The kind of home stuff you buy at Frye's and the like support only one security/encryption protocol.

But wireless cards/USB connectors are a few bucks. Why not just upgrade the non-WEP machine?


7 posted on 10/14/2006 8:23:09 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (ID: bad science, bad theology and, above all, bad philology)
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