Wireless Networking Security

[Greenstead]

Security of wireless networks has long been a concern, primarily for corporate implementations. The existing mechanism, WEP, is acknowledged as flawed and hackable. The replacement for WEP is becoming available, called WPA based on 802.11i.

You can read more about WPA here at Practically Networks sister website 802.11planet:
http://www.80211-planet.com/tutorials/article.php/2148721

You can also read more about the features of WPA from Microsoft here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;815485

The WPA client upgrade is already available as a download for XP from Microsoft, however the equivalent WPA components are also necessary in the firmware of wireless adapters and Access Points - check your wireless vendor for firmware upgrades. If you have a pre XP windows system you need the upgraded wireless client configuration manager from the vendor.

My suggestion - wait for a while and see how it all pans out thro later this year when 802.11i is due for formal ratification.

[EricB]

You're totally right. I found out yesterday, the hardway, that after installing the XP patch 815485 of 931kb none of the wireless monitors doesn't work. The strange this though, is that the wireless connection kept running as well as the file and printer sharing. But there some things not properly functioning.

I was very glad that MS give none of this information :-(

[Greenstead]

If you enjoy (trying to) understand network security try reading this:

http://www.drizzle.com/~aboba/IEEE/

[cszeto]

The "Microsoft Broadband Network Utility" that was packaged with the Microsoft wireless products, does a fairly good job in tracking down all the wireless clients. It just simply identifies all wireless clients connected to the network.

Not too sure what the licensing aspects are, since Microsoft left the wireless networking hardware market, but the application is still readily available for download and does not require any Microsoft wireless products to be present. The wireless client detection portion will work with any wireless client.

[kaddystroller]

This is some privey information for security implied.

[jaker03]

How to encrypt password for wireless router

[cszeto]

The passwords are not encrypted.The passwords are used to encrypt the wireless connection/link. The specific directions are in the manuals of the specific equipment.

[01byte]

here some tips:
1) Change Default Administrator Passwords (and Usernames)
2) Turn on (Compatible) WPA / WEP Encryption
3) Change the Default SSID
4) Enable MAC Address Filtering
5) Disable SSID Broadcast
6) Do Not Auto-Connect to Open Wi-Fi Networks
7) Assign Static IP Addresses to Devices
8) Enable Firewalls On Each Computer and the Router
9) Position the Router or Access Point Safely
10) Turn Off the Network During Extended Periods of Non-Use

[jaker03]

Thanks for the reply