As you may know already, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security is not secure. This first wireless LAN security standard, developed by the IEEE, has been vulnerable to cracking by Wi-Fi hackers for nearly a decade now.In 2003, the Wi-Fi Alliance released a security standard called Wi-Fi Protected Access. Although the first version (WPA), which uses TKIP/RC4 encryption, has gotten beaten up a bit, is not totally cracked, and can still be very secure.The second version (WPA2), released in mid-2004, does provide complete security, however, because it fully implements the IEEE 802.11i security standard with CCMP/AES encryption.In this article, we'll discover the two very different modes of Wi-Fi Protected Access.
We'll see how and why you'd want to move from the easy-to-use Personal mode to the Enterprise mode.Now let's get started! Two Modes of WPA/WPA2: Personal (PSK) versus EnterpriseBoth versions of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) can be implemented in either of two modes:. Personal or Pre-Shared Key (PSK) Mode: This mode is appropriate for most home networksbut not business networks. You define an encryption passphrase on the wireless router and any other access points (APs). Then the passphrase must be entered by users when connecting to the Wi-Fi network.Though this mode seems very easy to implement, it actually makes properly securing a business network nearly impossible. Unlike with the Enterprise mode, wireless access can't be individually or centrally managed.
One passphrase applies to all users. If the global passphrase should need to be changed, it must be manually changed on all the APs and computers. This would be a big headache when you need to change it; for instance, when an employee leaves the company or when any computers are stolen or compromised.Unlike with the Enterprise mode, the encryption passphrase is stored on the computers. Therefore, anyone on the computerwhether it be employees or thievescan connect to the network and also recover the encryption passphrase.
Enterprise (EAP/RADIUS) Mode: This mode provides the security needed for wireless networks in business environments. Though more complicated to set up, it offers individualized and centralized control over access to your Wi-Fi network. Users are assigned login credentials they must present when connecting to the network, which can be modified or revoked by administrators at anytime.Users never deal with the actual encryption keys.
They are securely created and assigned per user session in the background after a user presents their login credentials. This prevents people from recovering the network key from computers.
Why should I set up security on my Linksys wireless router?Wireless connection is a necessity nowadays and because of this, wireless security is essential to ensure safety in your local network.The different wireless security features of your Linksys router guards your network against possible instances of hacking. With these, you can:. Ensure that no one can easily connect to your wireless network and use the Internet without any permission. Personalize access on who can configure your wireless settings.
Protect all data that is transmitted through the wireless network.One method of establishing security on your network is to set up WEP, WPA™ or WPA2™ as your wireless security mode. To learn how to do this, follow the instructions below:Setting up WEP, WPA or WPA2 Personal wireless security on a Linksys wireless routerStep 1:Access the router’s web-based setup page by opening a web browser such as Internet Explorer® or Safari®. On the Address bar, enter your router’s local IP Address then press Enter.
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When the login prompt appears, enter your router’s User name and Password.NOTE: The default local IP Address of Linksys routers is 192.168.1.1, while the default password is “admin” and user name field is left blank.QUICK TIP: If you personalized the router's User name and Password, use those credentials instead. If you have lost or forgotten them, you need to reset the router.
To learn more about resetting, click.Step 2:You will now be redirected to the main screen of the setup page. On the setup page, click the Wireless tab then click the Wireless Security sub-tab.Step 3:On the Configuration View section, click the Manual radio button.Other router models, especially the older versions do not have the Manual option and may require you to scroll down the page until you reach the Wireless Security section instead.Step 4:You can now select from the four (4) options.Your Linksys router supports four (4) of the most commonly used wireless security modes which you can choose from: WEP, WPA Personal, WPA2 Personal, and WPA2/WPA Mixed Mode.
Here’s a table that best compares the different security types for your reference: SecurityRankNumber of CharactersWEPWired Equivalent ProtocolBasic40/64-bit (10 characters)128-bit (26 characters)WPA PersonalWi-Fi Protected Access® PersonalStrong8-63 charactersWPA2 PersonalWi-Fi Protected Access® 2 PersonalStrongest8-63 charactersWPA2/WPA Mixed ModeWPA2: StrongestWPA: Strong8-63 charactersWPA, WPA2, and WPA2/WPA security modes are highly recommended over WEP for a higher level of security. Follow the instructions below to know how to set up each security mode.Step 1:On the Security Mode field, select WPA2/WPA Mixed Mode and enter your Passphrase.NOTE: The Passphrase must consist of at least eight (8) characters and is case-sensitive.NOTE: WPA2/WPA Mixed Mode is also referred to as PSK2-Mixed for some Linksys routers. Refer to the image below for an example.Step 2:Click. Step 1:On Security Mode, select WPA Personal and enter your Passphrase.NOTE: The Passphrase must consist of at least eight (8) characters and is case-sensitive.NOTE: WPA Personal is also referred to as WPA Pre-Shared Key or PSK Personal for some Linksys routers. Refer to the images below for an example.WPA Pre-Shared KeyNOTE: The WPA Shared Key in the image above is the network password you will use to connect wirelessly.PSK PersonalNOTE: The Pre-shared Key in the image above is the network password you will use to connect wirelessly.Step 2:Click.NOTE: If you encounter a problem in selecting the type of security you wish to have, you should reset your router.
If problem still persists, you should upgrade your router's firmware to its latest version. For instructions, click.Other things to rememberFor dual-band routers, setting up the wireless security may depend on the exact type of dual-band router that you are using. Dual-band routers can be either simultaneous or selectable. If the router is selectable, this means that you can only use one (1) wireless band at a time and set a single wireless network password.However, if your dual-band router is simultaneous, you can use both 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless bands at the same time.
This also means that you can set two (2) different wireless network names and wireless passwords for each frequency (which is actually recommended to avoid interference).Once you have set up appropriate wireless security for both bands you are now ready to connect computers and other wireless devices such as an iPad®, smartphones, game consoles, printers, and access points to the router. You may click on the links below for instructions.Related Articles.
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Many routers provide WPA2-PSK (TKIP), WPA2-PSK (AES), and WPA2-PSK (TKIP/AES) as options. Choose the wrong one, though, and you’ll have a slower, less-secure network.Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) are the primary security algorithms you’ll see when setting up a wireless network. WEP is the oldest and has proven to be vulnerable as more and more security flaws have been discovered. WPA improved security, but is now also considered vulnerable to intrusion. WPA2, while not perfect, is currently the most secure choice. Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) are the two different types of encryption you’ll see used on networks secured with WPA2.
Let’s take a look at how they differ and which is best for you. TKIPTKIP and AES are two different types of encryption that can be used by a Wi-Fi network. TKIP is actually an older encryption protocol introduced with WPA to replace the very-insecure WEP encryption at the time.
TKIP is actually quite similar to WEP encryption. TKIP is no longer considered secure, and is now deprecated. In other words, you shouldn’t be using it.AES is a more secure encryption protocol introduced with WPA2. AES isn’t some creaky standard developed specifically for Wi-Fi networks, either.
It’s a serious worldwide encryption standard that’s even been adopted by the US government. For example, when you, it can use AES encryption for that. AES is generally considered quite secure, and the main weaknesses would be (prevented by using a strong passphrase) and.The short version is that TKIP is an older encryption standard used by the WPA standard. AES is a newer Wi-Fi encryption solution used by the new-and-secure WPA2 standard. In theory, that’s the end of it. But, depending on your router, just may not be good enough.While WPA2 is supposed to use AES for optimal security, it can also use TKIP where backward compatibility with legacy devices is needed.
In such a state, devices that support WPA2 will connect with WPA2 and devices that support WPA will connect with WPA. So “WPA2” doesn’t always mean WPA2-AES.
However, on devices without a visible “TKIP” or “AES” option, WPA2 is generally synonymous with WPA2-AES.RELATED:And in case you’re wondering, the “PSK” in those names stands for “” — the pre-shared key is generally your encryption passphrase. This distinguishes it from WPA-Enterprise, which uses a RADIUS server to hand out unique keys on larger corporate or government Wi-Fi networks.
Wi-Fi Security Modes ExplainedConfused yet? We’re not surprised. But all you really need to do is hunt down the one, most secure option in the list that works with your devices. Here are the options you’re likely to see on your router:RELATED:. Open (risky): Open Wi-Fi networks have no passphrase.
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You shouldn’t set up an open Wi-Fi network—seriously,. WEP 64 (risky): The old WEP protocol standard is vulnerable and you really shouldn’t use it. WEP 128 (risky): This is WEP, but with a larger encryption key size.
It isn’t really any less vulnerable than WEP 64. WPA-PSK (TKIP): This uses the original version of the WPA protocol (essentially WPA1). It has been superseded by WPA2 and isn’t secure. WPA-PSK (AES): This uses the original WPA protocol, but replaces TKIP with the more modern AES encryption. It’s offered as a stopgap, but devices that support AES will almost always support WPA2, while devices that require WPA will almost never support AES encryption. So, this option makes little sense. WPA2-PSK (TKIP): This uses the modern WPA2 standard with older TKIP encryption. This isn’t secure, and is only a good idea if you have older devices that can’t connect to a WPA2-PSK (AES) network.
WPA2-PSK (AES): This is the most secure option. It uses WPA2, the latest Wi-Fi encryption standard, and the latest AES encryption protocol. You should be using this option. On some devices, you’ll just see the option “WPA2” or “WPA2-PSK.” If you do, it will probably just use AES, as that’s a common-sense choice.
WPAWPA2-PSK (TKIP/AES): Some devices offer—and even recommend—this mixed-mode option. This option enables both WPA and WPA2, with both TKIP and AES. This provides maximum compatibility with any ancient devices you might have, but also allows an attacker to breach your network by cracking the more vulnerable WPA and TKIP protocols.WPA2 certification became available in 2004, ten years ago. In 2006, WPA2 certification became mandatory. Any device manufactured after 2006 with a “Wi-Fi” logo must support WPA2 encryption.Since your Wi-Fi enabled devices are most likely newer than 8-10 years old, you should be fine just choosing WPA2-PSK (AES). Select that option and then you can see if anything doesn’t work.
If a device does stop working, you can always change it back. Although, if security is a concern, you might just want to buy a new device manufactured since 2006. WPA and TKIP Will Slow Your Wi-Fi DownRELATED:WPA and TKIP compatability options can also slow down your Wi-Fi network.
Wpa Enterprise Vs Personal Banking
Many modern Wi-Fi routers that support will slow down to 54mbps if you enable WPA or TKIP in their options. They do this to ensure they’re compatible with these older devices.By comparison, even 802.11n supports up to 300mbps if you’re using WPA2 with AES. Theoretically, 802.11ac offers maximum speeds of 3.46 Gbps under optimum (read: perfect) conditions.On most routers we’ve seen, the options are generally WEP, WPA (TKIP), and WPA2 (AES)—with perhaps a WPA (TKIP) + WPA2 (AES) compatibility mode thrown in for good measure.If you do have an odd sort of router that offers WPA2 in either TKIP or AES flavors, choose AES. Almost all your devices will certainly work with it, and it’s faster and more secure. It’s an easy choice, as long as you can remember AES is the good one.Image Credit.
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What Does It Matter?You did what you were told to do, you logged into your router after you purchased it and plugged it in for the first time, and set a password. What does it matter what the little acronym next to the security protocol you chose was? As it turns out, it matters a whole lot. As is the case with all security standards, increasing computer power and exposed vulnerabilities have rendered older Wi-Fi standards at risk. It’s your network, it’s your data, and if someone hijacks your network for their illegal hijinks, it’ll be your door the police come knocking on. Understanding the differences between security protocols and implementing the most advanced one your router can support (or upgrading it if it can’t support current gen secure standards) is the difference between offering someone easy access to your home network and not. WEP, WPA, and WPA2: Wi-Fi Security Through the AgesSince the late 1990s, Wi-Fi security protocols have undergone multiple upgrades, with outright deprecation of older protocols and significant revision to newer protocols.
A stroll through the history of Wi-Fi security serves to highlight both what’s out there right now and why you should avoid older standards. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is the most widely used Wi-Fi security protocol in the world.
This is a function of age, backwards compatibility, and the fact that it appears first in the protocol selection menus in many router control panels.WEP was ratified as a Wi-Fi security standard in September of 1999. The first versions of WEP weren’t particularly strong, even for the time they were released, because U.S. Restrictions on the export of various cryptographic technology led to manufacturers restricting their devices to only 64-bit encryption. When the restrictions were lifted, it was increased to 128-bit. Despite the introduction of 256-bit WEP, 128-bit remains one of the most common implementations.Despite revisions to the protocol and an increased key size, over time numerous security flaws were discovered in the WEP standard. As computing power increased, it became easier and easier to exploit those flaws.
As early as 2001, proof-of-concept exploits were floating around, and by 2005, the FBI gave a public demonstration (in an effort to increase awareness of WEP’s weaknesses) where they cracked WEP passwords in minutes using freely available software.Despite various improvements, work-arounds, and other attempts to shore up the WEP system, it remains highly vulnerable. Systems that rely on WEP should be upgraded or, if security upgrades are not an option, replaced.
The Wi-Fi Alliance officially retired WEP in 2004. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) was the Wi-Fi Alliance’s direct response and replacement to the increasingly apparent vulnerabilities of the WEP standard. WPA was formally adopted in 2003, a year before WEP was officially retired. The most common WPA configuration is WPA-PSK (Pre-Shared Key). The keys used by WPA are 256-bit, a significant increase over the 64-bit and 128-bit keys used in the WEP system.Some of the significant changes implemented with WPA included message integrity checks (to determine if an attacker had captured or altered packets passed between the access point and client) and the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). TKIP employs a per-packet key system that was radically more secure than the fixed key system used by WEP. The TKIP encryption standard was later superseded by Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).Despite what a significant improvement WPA was over WEP, the ghost of WEP haunted WPA.
TKIP, a core component of WPA, was designed to be easily rolled out via firmware upgrades onto existing WEP-enabled devices. As such, it had to recycle certain elements used in the WEP system which, ultimately, were also exploited.WPA, like its predecessor WEP, has been shown via both proof-of-concept and applied public demonstrations to be vulnerable to intrusion. Interestingly, the process by which WPA is usually breached is not a direct attack on the WPA protocol (although such attacks have been successfully demonstrated), but by attacks on a supplementary system that was rolled out with WPA—Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)—which was designed to make it easy to link devices to modern access points.
Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2)WPA has, as of 2006, been officially superseded by WPA2. One of the most significant changes between WPA and WPA2 is the mandatory use of AES algorithms and the introduction of CCMP (Counter Cipher Mode with Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol) as a replacement for TKIP. However, TKIP is still preserved in WPA2 as a fallback system and for interoperability with WPA.Currently, the primary security vulnerability to the actual WPA2 system is an obscure one (and requires the attacker to already have access to the secured Wi-Fi network in order to gain access to certain keys and then perpetuate an attack against other devices on the network). As such, the security implications of the known WPA2 vulnerabilities are limited almost entirely to enterprise level networks and deserve little to no practical consideration in regard to home network security.Unfortunately, the same vulnerability that is the biggest hole in the WPA armor—the attack vector through the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)—remains in modern WPA2-capable access points. Although breaking into a WPA/WPA2 secured network using this vulnerability requires anywhere from 2-14 hours of sustained effort with a modern computer, it is still a legitimate security concern. WPS should be disabled and, if possible, the firmware of the access point should be flashed to a distribution that doesn’t even support WPS so the attack vector is entirely removed. Wi-Fi Security History Acquired; Now What?At this point, you’re either feeling a little smug (because you’re confidently using the best security protocol available for your Wi-Fi access point) or a little nervous (because you picked WEP since it was at the top of the list).
If you’re in the latter camp, don’t fret; we have you covered. Before we hit you with a further-reading list of our top Wi-Fi security articles, here’s the crash course. This is a basic list ranking the current Wi-Fi security methods available on any modern (post-2006) router, ordered from best to worst:. WPA2 + AES. WPA + AES. WPA + TKIP/AES (TKIP is there as a fallback method).
WPA + TKIP. WEP. Open Network (no security at all)Ideally, you’ll disable Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) and set your router to WPA2 + AES. Everything else on the list is a less than ideal step down from that.
I understand 802.1X to be some sort of port authentication control. However, when I was checking out the encryption settings for my wireless I found 802.1X in a drop down along with WPA2, WPA and WEP, but I don't see how it can be an alternative for these.Could someone please explain in layman's terms how 802.1X fits in, perhaps relating to EAP protocol too? All I know is that 802.1X provides two logical port entities for every physical port, one of these is for authentication and i think the other is for the actual EAP messages to flow through?
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