User's Manual

109
WEP Encryption
This option specifies whether data sent over the network is encrypted. The same
network key is used for data encryption and network authentication. Four network
keys can be defined although only one can be used at any one time. Use the Current
Network Key list box to select the appropriate network key.
Security options include authentication and encryption services based on the wired
equivalent privacy (WEP) algorithm. WEP is a set of security services used to
protect 802.11 networks from unauthorized access, such as eavesdropping
; in this
case, the capture of wireless network traffic. When data encryption is enabled,
secret shared encryption keys are generated and used by the source station and the
destination station to alter frame bits, thus avoiding disclosure to eavesdroppers.
Under shared key authentication, each wireless station is assumed to have received
a secret shared key over a secure channel that is independent from the 802.11
wireless network communications channel.
Encryption Strength
This drop-down list box will display when WEP Encryption is enabled. The key
strength is proportional to the number of binary bits comprising the key. This
means that keys with a greater number of bits have a greater degree of security and
are considerably more difficult to crack. Encryption strength can be set to either
64-bit or 128-bit. A 64-bit key is equivalent to 5 ASCII characters or 10
hexadecimal numbers. A 128-bit key contains 13 ASCII characters or 26
hexadecimal numbers. Each key contains a 24-bit header (an initiation vector)
which enables parallel decoding of multiple streams of encrypted data.
6.1.1 WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is an industry standard that simplifies wireless security
setup for certified network devices. Every WPS certified device has a PIN number
accessed through device software. The AR-5389 has a virtual button accessible from
the web user interface (WUI).
Devices with the WPS logo (shown here)
support WPS. If the WPS logo is not present
on your device it still may support WPS, in
this case, check the device documentation
for the phrase “Wi-Fi Protected Setup”.
NOTE: WPS is only available in Open, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK and Mixed
WPA2/WPA-PSK network authentication modes. Other authentication
modes do not use WPS so they must be configured manually.