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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614
3-2
Wireless Configuration
Implement Appropriate Wireless Security
Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your
walls by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your
wireless equipment. The WGR614 router provides highly effective security features which are
covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.
Figure 3-1:
WGR614 wireless data security options
There are several ways you can enhance the security of you wireless network.
Restrict Access Based on MAC address.
You can restrict access to only trusted PCs o that
unknown PCs cannot wirelessly connect to the WGR614. MAC address filtering adds an
obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the data broadcast over the wireless link
is fully exposed.
Turn Off the Broadcast of the Wireless Network Name SSID.
If you disable broadcast of
the SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies the wireless
network ‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP, but the data is still fully
exposed to a determined snoop using specialized test equipment like wireless sniffers.
WEP.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP Shared
Key authentication and WEP data encryption will block all but the most determined
eavesdropper.
Note:
Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11b/g wireless networks at
ranges of up to 500 feet.
Such distances can allow for others outside of your
immediate area to access your network.
1) Open System: Easy but no security
2) MAC Access List: No data security
3) WEP: Security but some performance impact
Wireless Data
Security Options
Range: Up to 500 Feet
WGR614
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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614
Wireless Configuration
3-3
Turn Off the Wired LAN.
If you disable the wireless LAN, wireless devices cannot
communicate with the router at all. You might choose to turn off the wireless the LAN when
you are away and the others in the household all use wired connections.
Understanding Wireless Settings
To configure the Wireless settings of your firewall, click the Wireless link in the main menu of the
browser interface. The Wireless Settings menu will appear, as shown below.
Figure 3-2:
Wireless Settings menu
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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614
3-4
Wireless Configuration
The 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networking protocols are configured in exactly the same
fashion.
Name (SSID).
The SSID is also known as the wireless network name. Enter a value of up to
32 alphanumeric characters. In a setting where there is more than one wireless network,
different wireless network names provide a means for separating the traffic. Any device you
want to participate in a particular wireless network will need to use this SSID for that network.
The WGR614 default SSID is:
NETGEAR
.
Region.
This field identifies the region where the WGR614 can be used. It may not be legal to
operate the wireless features of the router in a region other than one of those identified in this
field.
Channel.
This field determines which operating frequency will be used. It should not be
necessary to change the wireless channel unless you notice interference problems with another
nearby access point. For more information on the wireless channel frequencies please refer to
“Wireless Channels” on page D-7
.
Mode.
This field determines which data communications protocol will be used. You can select
“g only” or “g and b.” “g only” dedicates the WGR614 to communicating with the higher
bandwidth 802.11g wireless devices exclusively. The “g and b” mode provides backward
compatibility with the slower 802.11b wireless devices while still enabling 802.11g
communications.
Allow Broadcast of Name (SSID).
If you disable broadcast of the SSID, only devices that
have the correct SSID can connect. Disabling SSID broadcast nullifies the wireless network
‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP.
Enable Wireless Access Point.
If you disable the wireless access point, wireless devices
cannot connect to the WGR614.
Wireless Card Access List.
When the Trusted PCs Only radio button is selected, the
WGR614 checks the MAC address of the wireless station and only allows connections to PCs
identified on the trusted PCs list.
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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614
Wireless Configuration
3-5
Understanding WEP Authentication and Encryption
Restricting wireless access to your network prevents intruders from connecting to your network.
However, the wireless data transmissions are still vulnerable to snooping. Using the WEB data
encryption settings described below will prevent a determined intruder from eavesdropping on
your wireless data communications. Also, if you are using the Internet for such activities as
purchases or banking, those Internet sites use another level of highly secure encryption called SSL.
You can tell if a web site is using SSL because the web address begins with HTTPS rather than
HTTP.
Authentication Scheme Selection
Figure 3-3:
Encryption Strength
The WGR614 lets you select the following wireless authentication schemes.
Automatic.
Open System.
Shared key.
Be sure to set your wireless adapter according to the authentication scheme you choose for the
WGR614 router. Please refer to
“Authentication and WEP” on page D-3
for a full explanation of
each of these options, as defined by the IEEE 802.11 wireless communication standard.
Encryption Strength Choices
Choose the encryption strength from the drop-down list. Please refer to
“Overview of WEP
Parameters” on page D-5
for a full explanation of each of these options, as defined by the IEEE
802.11 wireless communication standard.
Note:
The authentication scheme is separate from the data encryption. You can
choose an authentication scheme which requires a shared key but still leave the
data transmissions unencrypted. If you require strong security, use both the
Shared Key and WEP encryption settings
.
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Reference Manual for Cable/DSL Wireless Router WGR614
3-6
Wireless Configuration
Disable.
No encryption will be applied. This setting is useful for troubleshooting your wireless
connection, but leaves your wireless data fully exposed.
64-bit or 128-bit WEP.
When 64-bit or 128-bit is selected, WEP encryption will be applied.
If WEP is enabled, you can manually or automatically program the four data encryption keys.
These values must be identical on all PCs and access points in your network.
There are two methods for creating WEP encryption keys:
Passphrase
. Enter a word or group of printable characters in the Passphrase box and click the
Generate button. These characters
are
case sensitive.
Manual
. For 64-bit WEP, enter 10 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, a-f, or A-F).
For 128-bit WEP, enter 26 hexadecimal digits (any combination of 0-9, a-f, or A-F). These
values
are not
case sensitive.
Default Factory Settings
When you first receive your WGR614, the default factory settings are shown below. You can
restore these defaults with the Factory Default Restore button on the rear panel. After you install
the WGR614 router, use the procedures below to customize any of the settings to better meet your
networking needs.
FEATURE
DEFAULT FACTORY SETTINGS
Wireless Access Point
Enabled
Wireless Access List (MAC Filtering)
All wireless stations allowed
SSID broadcast
Enabled
SSID
NETGEAR
11b/g RF Channel
11
Mode
g and b
Authentication Type
Open System
WEP
Disabled

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