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WEP necessary for wireless router?
Name: IRA Date: December 29, 2008 at 08:53:24 Pacific OS: Windows XP CPU/Ram: 4E/1G Product: Self built / SELF BUILT
Comment:
If I access the internet via a wireless router, with the computer set to block outside access to my files (in addition to my commercial antivirus/firewall), would a connection to a secure web site (e.g., bank, etc.) be safe with a 6-HEX-digit WPA router security, 64-bit (128-bit is supposedly slower)?
Name: UpAndComing Date: December 29, 2008 at 09:42:35 Pacific
Reply:
yeah you've generally got 3 basic levels of wireless security (four if you count "none at all").
WEP - the weakest and easiest to break; only slightly better than none at all
WPA - better than WEP
WPA 2 - better than WPA
and yes, higher bit count means greater levels of encryption, which may slow performance. Encryption method is more important than bit count (ie WPA2 64 bit > WEP 128 bit).
If all the computers on your network can support it, use WPA2.
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