Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Wireless access point Q: To WEP or not to WEP

This is topic Wireless access point Q: To WEP or not to WEP in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 02-17-2004, 11:25 PM:

OK; two schools of thought: One person tells me that I should not use WEP, because it's not very secure. He says I should not broadcast my SSID, and enter the MAC addresses into the AP so only those PC's are allowed.

Another person says I should use WEP. He says without WEP, the MAC address is not encryped, and can be received. "Warchalkers" will brute-force find the SSID, and then thay have access.

So; who's right, if anyone? [Confused]

Posted by Jason Burroughs (Member # 68) on 02-18-2004, 12:15 AM:

There is NO way to make wireless (Wi-Fi) hacker proof. However you can do things to discourage the amateur.

Use WEP - 128 Bit Encryption (Some newer devices are supporting 256 bit now - Known as WPA). Make the Key fairly complex and change it often if possible.

Use Shared Key authenticaion - Not Open System

Disable SSID broadcast and make the SSID using complex characters ie. f1lm-t3ch! (similar technique used for the WEP Key).

Good source in general information about wireless networks (Wi-Fi) is Wi-Fi.Org

Linksys has a line of products that support WPA
Linksys

An even BETTER solution, provided you have the resources, is to put the access point outside of your network, and then use VPN to come in, This will provide better encryption ability, also easier managed.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-23-2004, 08:18 PM:

Ditto.

WEP is easy to break, but in-the-clear (WEP disabled) is even easier.

If VPN isn't in the budget (Cisco's 500 series PIX's & the Cisco VPN Client work 'well'), you could always use SSH tunnels. It isn't the fastest game in town but it's likely to be fast enough to max out your internet connection with wireless bandwidth to spare.