SMC Networks SMC EZ Connect 2.4GHz 11 Mbps Wireless USB Flash Drive SMCWUSB32 User Manual page 25

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What is Authentication Algorithm?
Authentication Algorithm is the means by which one station is authorized to
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communicate with another. In an Open System, any station can request
authorization in accordance with the WECA standard. In a Shared key system,
only stations that possess a secret encrypted key may participate in the network.
This is a low level security key which allows the equipment with the shared key
algorithm to see each other on the wireless LAN.
• What is DBI?
The ability of the antenna to shape the signal and focus it in a particular
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direction is called Antenna Gain, and is expressed in terms of how much stronger
the signal in the desired direction is, compared to the worst possible antenna,
which distributes the signal evenly in all directions (an Isotropic Radiator). To
express the relationship to the Isotropic reference, this is abbreviated: "dBi". The
typical omni-directional "stick" antenna is rated at 6-8 dBi, indicating that that by
redirecting the signal that would have gone straight up or down to the horizontal
level, 4 times as much signal is available horizontally. A parabolic reflector design
can easily achieve 24 dBi.
• What is WEP?
Short for Wired Equivalent Privacy, WEP is a security protocol for wireless local
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area networks (WLANs) defined in the 802.11b and 802.11a standards.
WEP is designed to provide the same level of security as that of a wired LAN.
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LANs are inherently more secure than WLANs because LANs are somewhat
protected by the physicalities of their structure, having some or all part of the
network inside a building that can be protected from unauthorized access.
WLANs, which are over radio waves, do not have the same physical structure
and therefore are more vulnerable to tampering.
WEP aims to provide security by encrypting data over radio waves so that it is
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protected as it is transmitted from one end point to another. The Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) feature uses the RC4 PRNG algorithm developed by
RSA Data Security, Inc.
If your wireless access point supports MAC filtering, it is recommended that you
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use this feature in addition to WEP (MAC filtering is much more secure than
encryption).