ZyXEL P-336M User Guide - Page 37

WLAN Security Setup

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ZyXEL P-336M User's Guide TKIP regularly changes and rotates the encryption keys so that the same encryption key is never used twice. The RADIUS server distributes a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) key to the AP that then sets up a key hierarchy and management system, using the pair-wise key to dynamically generate unique data encryption keys to encrypt every data packet that is wirelessly communicated between the AP and the wireless clients. This all happens in the background automatically. AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a newer method of data encryption that also uses a secret key. This implementation of AES applies a 128-bit key to 128-bit blocks of data. The Message Integrity Check (MIC) is designed to prevent an attacker from capturing data packets, altering them and resending them. The MIC provides a strong mathematical function in which the receiver and the transmitter each compute and then compare the MIC. If they do not match, it is assumed that the data has been tampered with and the packet is dropped. By generating unique data encryption keys for every data packet and by creating an integrity checking mechanism (MIC), TKIP makes it much more difficult to decode data on a Wi-Fi network than WEP, making it difficult for an intruder to break into the network. The encryption mechanisms used for WPA(2) and WPA(2)-PSK are the same. The only difference between the two is that WPA(2)-PSK uses a simple common password, instead of user-specific credentials. The common-password approach makes WPA(2)-PSK susceptible to brute-force password-guessing attacks but it's still an improvement over WEP as it employs an easier-to-use, consistent, single, alphanumeric password. 3.8 WLAN Security Setup Configure wireless LAN security settings in the Wireless screen. Click Basic > Wireless to display the configuration screen. This screen varies depending on the option you select in the Security Mode field. Figure 12 Basic: Wireless: WLAN Security Setup 3.8.1 WLAN Security Setup: WEP To configure basic WEP key encryption, select WEP in the Security Mode field in the Wireless screen. 37 Chapter 3 Basic

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ZyXEL P-336M User’s Guide
37
Chapter 3 Basic
TKIP regularly changes and rotates the encryption keys so that the same encryption key is
never used twice. The RADIUS server distributes a Pairwise Master Key (PMK) key to the AP
that then sets up a key hierarchy and management system, using the pair-wise key to
dynamically generate unique data encryption keys to encrypt every data packet that is
wirelessly communicated between the AP and the wireless clients. This all happens in the
background automatically.
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a newer method of data encryption that also uses a
secret key. This implementation of AES applies a 128-bit key to 128-bit blocks of data.
The Message Integrity Check (MIC) is designed to prevent an attacker from capturing data
packets, altering them and resending them. The MIC provides a strong mathematical function
in which the receiver and the transmitter each compute and then compare the MIC. If they do
not match, it is assumed that the data has been tampered with and the packet is dropped.
By generating unique data encryption keys for every data packet and by creating an integrity
checking mechanism (MIC), TKIP makes it much more difficult to decode data on a Wi-Fi
network than WEP, making it difficult for an intruder to break into the network.
The encryption mechanisms used for WPA(2) and WPA(2)-PSK are the same. The only
difference between the two is that WPA(2)-PSK uses a simple common password, instead of
user-specific credentials. The common-password approach makes WPA(2)-PSK susceptible to
brute-force password-guessing attacks but it's still an improvement over WEP as it employs an
easier-to-use, consistent, single, alphanumeric password.
3.8
WLAN Security Setup
Configure wireless LAN security settings in the Wireless screen. Click
Basic > Wireless
to
display the configuration screen. This screen varies depending on the option you select in the
Security Mode
field.
Figure 12
Basic: Wireless: WLAN Security Setup
3.8.1
WLAN Security Setup: WEP
To configure basic WEP key encryption, select
WEP
in the
Security Mode
field in the
Wireless
screen.