Understanding Wg302 Wireless Security Options - NETGEAR WG302 - 802.11g ProSafe Wireless Access Point Reference Manual

NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Access Point WG302 Reference Manual

Understanding WG302 Wireless Security Options

Your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your walls by anyone with a
compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your wireless equipment. The
ProSafe 802.11g provides highly effective security features which are covered in detail in this
chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.
WG302
Figure 2-1: WG302 wireless data security options
There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network:
• Restrict Access Based on MAC address. You can restrict access to only trusted PCs so that
unknown PCs cannot wirelessly connect to the WG302. MAC address filtering adds an
obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the data broadcast over the wireless link
is fully exposed.
• Turn Off the Broadcast of the Wireless Network Name (SSID). If you disable broadcast of
the SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies the wireless
network "discovery" feature of some products such as Windows XP, but the data is still fully
exposed to a determined snoop using specialized test equipment like wireless sniffers.
• Use WEP. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP
Shared Key authentication and WEP data encryption will block all but the most determined
eavesdropper.
• Use WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, or WPA2-PSK. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2)
data encryption provides data security. The very strong authentication along with dynamic per
frame rekeying of WPA make it virtually impossible to compromise. Because this is a new
standard, wireless device driver and software availability may be limited.
Basic Installation and Configuration
v4.0, April 2006
2-3