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Encryption/Security

Name

64-Bit Wired

Equivalent

Privacy

128-Bit Wired

Equivalent

Privacy

Wi-Fi Protected

Access-TKIP

Wi-Fi Protected

Access 2

Acronym

64-bit WEP

128-bit WEP

WPA-TKIP/AES

(or just WPA)

WPA2-AES (or

just WPA2)

Security

Good

Better

Best

Best

Features

Static keys

Static keys

Dynamic key

encryption

and mutual

authentication

Dynamic key

encryption

and mutual

authentication

Encryption

keys based on

RC4 algorithm

(typically

40-bit keys)

More secure

than 64-bit

WEP using a

key length of

104 bits plus

24 additional

bits of system-

generated data

TKIP (Temporal

Key Integrity

Protocol) added

so that keys

are rotated and

encryption is

strengthened

AES (Advanced

Encryption

Standard) does

not cause any

throughput loss

Securing your Wi-Fi Network

Here are a few different ways you can

maximize the security of your wireless network

and protect your data from prying eyes and

ears� This section is intended for the home,

home-office, and small-office user� At the time

of this User Manual’s publication, there are

four encryption methods available�

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Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

WEP is a common protocol that adds security to all wireless products that are compliant with Wi-Fi� WEP was designed to give wireless networks the

equivalent level of privacy protection as a comparable wired network�

64-Bit WEP

64-bit WEP was first introduced with 64-bit encryption, which includes

a key length of 40 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-generated data

(64 bits total)� Some hardware manufacturers refer to 64-bit as 40-bit

encryption� Shortly after the technology was introduced, researchers

found that 64-bit encryption was too easy to decode�

128-Bit WEP

As a result of 64-bit WEP’s potential security weaknesses, a more

secure method of 128-bit encryption was developed� 128-bit encryption

includes a key length of 104 bits plus 24 additional bits of system-

generated data (128 bits total)� Some hardware manufacturers refer to

128-bit as 104-bit encryption� Most of the new wireless equipment in the

market today supports both 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption, but you

might have older equipment that only supports 64-bit WEP� All Belkin

wireless products will support both 64-bit and 128-bit WEP�

Encryption Keys

After selecting either the “64-bit” or “128-bit WEP” encryption mode,

it is critical that you generate an encryption key� If the encryption key

is not consistent throughout the entire wireless network, your wireless

networking devices will be unable to communicate with one another

on your network and you will not be able to successfully communicate

within your network� You can enter your key by typing in the hex key

manually, or you can type in a passphrase in the “Passphrase” field and

click “Generate” to create a key� A hex (hexadecimal) key is a mixture

of numbers and letters from A–F and 0–9� For 64-bit WEP, you need to

enter 10 hex keys� For 128-bit WEP, you need to enter 26 hex keys�

For instance:

AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit WEP key

C3 03 0F AF 0F 4B B2 C3 D4 4B C3 D4 E7 = 128-bit WEP key

The WEP passphrase is NOT the same as a WEP key� Your wireless card

uses this passphrase to generate your WEP keys, but different hardware

manufacturers might have different methods for generating the keys� If

you have equipment from multiple vendors in your network, you can use

the hex WEP key from your Router or access point and enter it manually

into the hex WEP key table in your wireless card’s configuration screen�

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Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

WPA is a new Wi-Fi standard that was designed to improve upon the

security features of WEP� To use WPA security, the drivers and software

of your wireless equipment must be upgraded to support WPA� These

updates will be found on the wireless vendors’ websites� There are two

types of WPA security: WPA-PSK (no server) and WPA (with 802�1x

radius server)�

WPA-PSK (no server)

This method uses what is known as a “pre-shared key” as the

network key� A network key is basically a password that is between

eight and 63 characters long� It can be a combination of letters,

numbers, or characters� Each client uses the same network key to

access the network� Typically, this is the mode that will be used in a

home environment�

WPA (with 802±1x radius server)

With this system, a radius server distributes the network key to the

clients automatically� This is typically found in a business environment�

WPA2

The Router features WPA2, which is the second generation of the

WPA-based 802�11i standard� It offers a higher level of wireless security

by combining advanced network authentication and stronger AES

encryption methods�

WPA2 Requirements

IMPORTANT:

In order to use WPA2 security, all your computers and

wireless client adapters must be upgraded with patches, drivers,

and client utility software that support WPA2� At the time of this

User Manual’s publication, a couple security patches are available,

for free download, from Microsoft

®

� These patches work only with

the Windows XP operating system� Other operating systems are not

supported at this time�

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For a Windows XP computer that does not have Service Pack 2 (SP2),

a file from Microsoft called “Windows XP Support Patch for Wireless

Protected Access (KB 826942)” is available for free download at

http://

www�microsoft�com/downloads/details�aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=0

09D8425-CE2B-47A4-ABEC-274845DC9E91

�

For Windows XP computers with SP2, Microsoft has released a free

download to update the wireless client components to support WPA2

(KB893357)� The update can be downloaded from:

http://www�microsoft�

com/downloads/details�aspx?FamilyID=662bb74d-e7c1-48d6-95ee-

1459234f4483&DisplayLang=en

�

IMPORTANT:

You also need to ensure that all your wireless client

cards and adapters support WPA2, and that you have downloaded

and installed the latest driver� Most of the Belkin wireless cards

have updated drivers available for download from the Belkin support

site: www�belkin�com/networking� For a list of Belkin wireless

products that support WPA/WPA2, please visit our website at

www�belkin�com/networking

�

Sharing the Same Network Keys

Most Wi-Fi products ship with security turned off� So, once you have

your network working, you need to activate WEP or WPA and make sure

your wireless networking devices are sharing the same network key�

Using a Hexadecimal Key

A hexadecimal key is a mixture of numbers and letters from A–F

and 0–9� 64-bit keys are five 2-digit numbers� 128-bit keys are 13

2-digit numbers�

For instance:

AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit key

C3 03 0F AF 0F 4B B2 C3 D4 4B C3 D4 E7 = 128-bit key

In the boxes below, make up your key by writing in two characters

between A–F and 0–9 in each box� You will use this key to program the

encryption settings on your Router and your wireless computers�

Note to Mac users:

Original Apple

®

AirPort

®

products support 64-bit

encryption only� Apple AirPort 2 products can support 64-bit or 128-bit

encryption� Please check your product to see which version you are

using� If you cannot configure your network with 128-bit encryption, try

64-bit encryption�

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Changing the Wireless Security Settings

Your Router is equipped with WPA/WPA2, the latest wireless security

standard� It also supports the legacy security standard, WEP� By

default, wireless security is disabled� To enable security, you must first

determine which standard you want to use� To access the security

settings, click “Security” on the “Wireless” tab�

WEP Setup

1±

Select “WEP” from the drop-down menu�

2±

Select “WEP Mode” of 64-bit or 128-bit�

3±

After selecting your WEP mode, you can enter your key by typing in

the hex key manually�

A hex (hexadecimal) key is a mixture of numbers and letters from A–F

and 0–9� For 64-bit WEP, you need to enter 10 hex keys� For 128-bit

WEP, you need to enter 26 hex keys�

For instance:

AF 0F 4B C3 D4 = 64-bit key

C3 03 0F AF 0F 4B B2 C3 D4 4B C3 D4 E7 = 128-bit key

4±

Click “Apply Changes” to finish� Encryption in the Router is now

set� Each of your computers on your wireless network will now

need to be configured with the same security settings�

WARNING:

If you are configuring the Wireless Router from a computer

with a wireless client, you will need to ensure that security is turned

ON for this wireless client� If this is not done, you will lose your

wireless connection�