Wireless Data Security Options - NETGEAR ProSafe FVS318N Reference Manual

Wireless Data Security Options

Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11n wireless networks at a maximum range of
300 feet. Typically, a wireless VPN firewall inside a building works best with devices within a
100 foot radius. Such distances can allow for others outside your immediate area to access
your network.
Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can extend beyond your walls
and can be received by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security
features of your wireless equipment. The wireless VPN firewall provides highly effective
security features that are covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features
appropriate to your needs.
Figure 55.
There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network:
• Restrict access based by MAC address. You can allow only trusted computers to
connect so that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the wireless VPN
firewall. Restricting access by MAC address adds an obstacle against unwanted access
to your network, but the data broadcast over the wireless link is fully exposed. For
information about how to restrict access by MAC address, see
by MAC Address
• 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 exposed. For information about how to turn of broadcast of the SSID, see
Configure and Enable Wireless Profiles
• WEP. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP
shared key authentication and WEP data encryption block all but the most determined
eavesdropper. This data encryption mode has been superseded by WPA-PSK and
WPA2-PSK.
For information about how to configure WEP, see
on page 115.
• WPA. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) data encryption provides strong data security with
Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) or a combination of TKIP and Counter Mode with
ProSafe Wireless-N 8-Port Gigabit VPN Firewall FVS318N
on page 120.
Wireless Configuration and Security
on page 115.
Configure and Enable Wireless Profiles
111
Restrict Wireless Access