What You Should Know; Wireless Security Overview - ZyXEL Communications PLA4231 User Manual

Chapter 10 Wireless LAN
• Use the Advanced screen
such as set the RTS/CTS Threshold and HT physical mode.
• Use the QoS screen
(WMMQoS). This allows the PLA4231 to automatically set priority levels to services, such as e-
mail, VoIP, chat, and so on.
• Use the WPS screen
security, without having to configure security settings manually.
• Use the WPS Station screen
• Use the Scheduling screen
turned on and off.

10.3 What You Should Know

Every wireless network must follow these basic guidelines.
• Every wireless client in the same wireless network must use the same SSID.
The SSID is the name of the wireless network. It stands for Service Set IDentity.
• If two wireless networks overlap, they should use different channels.
Like radio stations or television channels, each wireless network uses a specific channel, or
frequency, to send and receive information.
• Every wireless client in the same wireless network must use security compatible with the AP.
Security stops unauthorized devices from using the wireless network. It can also protect the
information that is sent in the wireless network.

10.3.1 Wireless Security Overview

The following sections introduce different types of wireless security you can set up in the wireless
network.
10.3.1.1 SSID
Normally, the AP acts like a beacon and regularly broadcasts the SSID in the area. You can hide the
SSID instead, in which case the AP does not broadcast the SSID. In addition, you should change
the default SSID to something that is difficult to guess.
This type of security is fairly weak, however, because there are ways for unauthorized devices to
get the SSID. In addition, unauthorized devices can still see the information that is sent in the
wireless network.
10.3.1.2 MAC Address Filter
Every wireless client has a unique identification number, called a MAC address.
usually written using twelve hexadecimal characters
00:A0:C5:00:00:02. To get the MAC address for each wireless client, see the appropriate User's
Guide or other documentation.
1. Some wireless devices, such as scanners, can detect wireless networks but cannot use wireless networks. These kinds
of wireless devices might not have MAC addresses.
2. Hexadecimal characters are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F.
64
(Section 10.7 on page
(Section 10.8 on page 73) to enable Wifi MultiMedia Quality of Service
(Section 10.9 on page 74) to quickly set up a wireless network with strong
(Section 10.10 on page
(Section 10.11 on page
73) to configure wireless advanced features,
76) to add a wireless station using WPS.
76) to set the times your wireless LAN is
2
; for example, 00A0C5000002 or
1
A MAC address is
PLA4231 User's Guide