Networking: Cabled and Wireless Wi-Fi Networks

Wireless network security: WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption

Wireless routers that support wired connections (usually providing 4 Ethernet ports) are the main piece of networking equipment around which a home network is created. Router manufacturers continue providing support for the older security encryption standards in order to make it possible to continue using the older equipment that supports them. WPA2-AES is the latest standard (in April 2012), which is the best to use, but not all networking hardware supports it, so WPA2-TKIP may have to be used instead. If your equipment only supports WEP, you should update it, because it is easily cracked, but the original WPA can still be used.

The image below is the configuration page of an ADSL modem router that comes up when the router’s IP address, which is in this form – 192.168.1.68 – is entered in a web browser’s address bar, as is. No http:// is required before the IP address. To find out what the Default Gateway – the router’s IP address – is in Windows 7 & 10, open a Command Prompt window by entering cmd in the Search box. Open the link called Command Prompt – Desktop app and type the command ipconfig in at the prompt. Look for the Default Gateway.

Web-based configuration page of an ADSL modem router showing the enabled Security mode - WPA2/PSK
Web-based configuration page of an ADSL modem router showing the enabled Security mode – WPA2/PSK. Click on the image to see its full size.

Visit the Q&A article on this site called How can a wireless Wi-Fi network be made secure? to find out about data encryption and other methods of keeping a wireless network secure. Use your browser’s Back button to return to this point on this page. Then watch this video on how to set up a router’s security:

Episode 1 – Wireless router security [WEP and WPA and WPA-PSK] –

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v228005fD2HxAkq

There are plenty of YouTube videos on how to hack a wireless network. Here is one that I found in January 2013:

HOW TO: Hack Encrypted Wireless Network (WEP & WPA) –

NEXT PAGEWi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) also known as Quick Security Setup (QSS)