Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security; Wireless Data Security Options; Basic Wireless Settings - NETGEAR WGX102 Reference Manual

Reference Manual for the 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender WGX102

Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security

Note: Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11b/g wireless networks at ranges of up
to 300 feet. Such distances can allow for others outside of your immediate area to access
your network.
Unlike wired network data, 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 WGX102 Wall-Plugged Range Extender provides highly effective
security features that are covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate
to your needs.

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 computers so
that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the WGX102. 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.
• 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.
• WPA-PSK. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) data encryption provides strong data security.
WPA-PSK will block eavesdropping. Because this is a new standard, wireless device driver
and software availability may be limited.

Basic Wireless Settings

To configure the Wireless settings of your range extender, click the Wireless link in the main
menu of the browser interface. The Wireless Settings menu appears, as shown below.
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Wireless Configuration