Generating 128 bit code from 5 character passphrase

Background
==========

http://www.andrewscompanies.com/tools/wep.asp#custom

The website above indicates that 13 character passphrase is necessary
to generate a 128 security key. I used a 5 character passphrase for
my access point and 128 bit encryption (Belkin).

Question
========

If I want to generate the 128 bit code to work with the Belkin access
point, how should I 'pad' my 5 character passphrase? Apparently there
is standard way of doing this: my IBM T23 has integrated 802.11 and
'knew' how to pad the 5 character passphrase to generate the 128 bit
WEP Security Key: resulting in effective wireless communication
between the T23 and the access point.

Response to (E-Mail Removed) are appreciated.

Raymond Chiu wrote:

> The website above indicates that 13 character passphrase is necessary
> to generate a 128 security key. I used a 5 character passphrase for
> my access point and 128 bit encryption (Belkin).
>

A short key is more vulnerable to brute force attacks. Use as long a pass
phrase as possible or better yet, find some method to generate a key,
without a pass phrase. For example, in Linux you can use something like
"ps aux|md5sum, to generate a 128 bit key, of which you'd use 104 bits.

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