ZyXEL P-662HW-61 User Guide - Page 115

Encryption

Page 115 highlights

Chapter 7 Wireless LAN If your ZyXEL Device does not provide a local user database and if you do not have a RADIUS server, you cannot set up user names and passwords for your users. Unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless network, even if they cannot use the wireless network. Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized wireless users to get a valid user name and password. Then, they can use that user name and password to use the wireless network. Local user databases also have an additional limitation that is explained in the next section. 7.2.4 Encryption Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the wireless network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot understand the message. The types of encryption you can choose depend on the type of authentication. (See Section 7.2.3 on page 114 for information about this.) Table 34 Types of Encryption for Each Type of Authentication NO AUTHENTICATION RADIUS SERVER Weakest None Static WEP WPA-PSK Strongest WPA2-PSK WPA WPA2 For example, if the wireless network has a RADIUS server, you can choose WPA or WPA2. If users do not log in to the wireless network, you can choose no encryption, Static WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK. Usually, you should set up the strongest encryption that every device in the wireless network supports. For example, suppose you have a wireless network with the ZyXEL Device. The ZyXEL Device does not have a local user database, and you do not have a RADIUS server. Therefore, there is no authentication. Suppose the wireless network has two devices. Device A only supports WEP, and device B supports WEP and WPA. Therefore, you should set up Static WEP in the wireless network. " It is recommended that wireless networks use WPA-PSK, WPA, or stronger encryption. IEEE 802.1x and WEP encryption are better than none at all, but it is still possible for unauthorized wireless devices to figure out the original information pretty quickly. When you select WPA2 or WPA2-PSK in your ZyXEL Device, you can also select an option (WPA compatible) to support WPA as well. In this case, if some of the devices support WPA and some support WPA2, you should set up WPA2-PSK or WPA2 (depending on the type of wireless network login) and select the WPA compatible option in the ZyXEL Device. P-662H/HW-D Series User's Guide 115

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Chapter 7 Wireless LAN
P-662H/HW-D Series User’s Guide
115
If your ZyXEL Device does not provide a local user database and if you do not have a
RADIUS server, you cannot set up user names and passwords for your users.
Unauthorized wireless devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless network,
even if they cannot use the wireless network. Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized
wireless users to get a valid user name and password. Then, they can use that user name and
password to use the wireless network.
Local user databases also have an additional limitation that is explained in the next section.
7.2.4
Encryption
Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the wireless
network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot
understand the message.
The types of encryption you can choose depend on the type of authentication. (See
Section
7.2.3 on page 114
for information about this.)
For example, if the wireless network has a RADIUS server, you can choose
WPA
or
WPA2
.
If users do not log in to the wireless network, you can choose no encryption,
Static WEP
,
WPA-PSK
, or
WPA2-PSK
.
Usually, you should set up the strongest encryption that every device in the wireless network
supports. For example, suppose you have a wireless network with the ZyXEL Device. The
ZyXEL Device does not have a local user database, and you do not have a RADIUS server.
Therefore, there is no authentication. Suppose the wireless network has two devices. Device A
only supports WEP, and device B supports WEP and WPA. Therefore, you should set up
Static WEP
in the wireless network.
It is recommended that wireless networks use
WPA-PSK
,
WPA
, or stronger
encryption. IEEE 802.1x and WEP encryption are better than none at all, but it
is still possible for unauthorized wireless devices to figure out the original
information pretty quickly.
When you select
WPA2
or
WPA2-PSK
in your ZyXEL Device, you can also select an option
(
WPA compatible
) to support WPA as well. In this case, if some of the devices support WPA
and some support WPA2, you should set up
WPA2-PSK
or
WPA2
(depending on the type of
wireless network login) and select the
WPA compatible
option in the ZyXEL Device.
Table 34
Types of Encryption for Each Type of Authentication
NO AUTHENTICATION
RADIUS SERVER
Weakest
None
Static WEP
WPA-PSK
WPA
Strongest
WPA2-PSK
WPA2