Wireless Security Options - NETGEAR MBR1210 User Manual

Wireless Security Options

Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11n wireless networks at a maximum range of up
to 300 feet. Such distances can allow 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 Mobile Broadband 11n Wireless Router provides
highly effective security features, which are covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the
security features appropriate to your needs.
Each router is preconfigured for WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK mixed-mode, and comes with a
unique SSID and passphrase for each router.
There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network:
Figure 3. Wireless Security
Restrict access based on MAC address. You can allow only trusted PCs to connect so
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that unknown PCs cannot wirelessly connect to the router. 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.
Turn off the broadcast of the wireless network name (SSID). If you disable broadcast
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of the SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies wireless
network "discovery" feature of some products, such as Windows XP, but the data is still
exposed.
WEP. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP
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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 This data encryption mode has been superseded by WPA-PSK and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.
WPA-PSK (TKIP), WPA2-PSK (AES). Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) using a pre-shared
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key to perform authentication and generate the initial data encryption keys. The very
strong authentication along with dynamic per frame re-keying of WPA makes it virtually
impossible to compromise.
For more information about wireless technology, click the link to the online document
Wireless Networking Basics
26 | Chapter 2. Wireless Network Configuration
Mobile Broadband 11n Wireless Router MBR1210 User Manual
in Appendix A.