[Gllug] wireless security for dummies

[Rich Walker]

Jack Bertram <jack at jbertram.net> writes:

> I've just got myself a wireless ADSL router to replace my Speedtouch
> fish.  Before I go activating the wireless function, can anyone point me
> to a "wireless security for dummies" page that explains all the theory
> in detail - e.g., what WEP is, whether it's worth hiding SSIDs, etc.?  I
> want to lock it down as tightly as possible.

What I've done in the past is use an "obvious to the users" 13-character
encryption key, explain that this is Not Actually Secure, but does
prevent casual un-authorised use. (For example, there is a standard
Debian package for analysing wireless traffic to recover the encryption
key, based on a flaw in the encryption protocol, but you do have to
sniff quite a lot of traffic to do it)

You can enable MAC-address access control, where each machine's MAC
address has to be added to the router's control page, but then every
time you get a new machine you'll have to remember you did this, and you
will forget.

cheers, Rich.

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rich walker         |  Shadow Robot Company | rw at shadow.org.uk
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