WEP Passphrase Key1-4

What's the use of the passphrase?

With it I can generate 4 keys. Why can't I just chose a 10 digit hexadecimal
encryption key? What has the passphrase to do with it?
I've got a LinkSys WRT54G and I don't succeed in using WEP. What can be
wrong?

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 01:24:49 +0200, Willhe spoketh

>What's the use of the passphrase?
>
>With it I can generate 4 keys. Why can't I just chose a 10 digit hexadecimal
>encryption key? What has the passphrase to do with it?
>I've got a LinkSys WRT54G and I don't succeed in using WEP. What can be
>wrong?
>

The passphrase is a tool to _help_ you generate a key. If you want to
generate your own, just type it in ...

Lars M. Hansen
www.hansenonline.net
Remove "bad" from my e-mail address to contact me.
"If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?"

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 01:24:49 +0200, Willhe wrote:

> What's the use of the passphrase?
>
> With it I can generate 4 keys. Why can't I just chose a 10 digit hexadecimal
> encryption key? What has the passphrase to do with it?
> I've got a LinkSys WRT54G and I don't succeed in using WEP. What can be
> wrong?

Did you put the same key (or passphrase) into the wireless configuration on
your computer? They have to match. If the client takes only one key, use
key 1.


--
Barry

In article <1guekh0hlaip.gwe7ktedow06$.(E-Mail Removed)>,
Barry Jones <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 01:24:49 +0200, Willhe wrote:
>
> > What's the use of the passphrase?
> >
> > With it I can generate 4 keys. Why can't I just chose a 10 digit hexadecimal
> > encryption key? What has the passphrase to do with it?
> > I've got a LinkSys WRT54G and I don't succeed in using WEP. What can be
> > wrong?
>
> Did you put the same key (or passphrase) into the wireless configuration on
> your computer? They have to match. If the client takes only one key, use
> key 1.

What's the benefit of multiple keys? My router (Netgear MR814v2) takes 4,
but my clients (XP) take 1.

--
-eben (E-Mail Removed)m home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar
Are you confident that you appear to be professional in your electronic
communication? Consider this: A: No
Q: Can I top post? from (E-Mail Removed)

"Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cbvfo7$ov4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> In article <1guekh0hlaip.gwe7ktedow06$.(E-Mail Removed)>,
> Barry Jones <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 01:24:49 +0200, Willhe wrote:
> >
> > > What's the use of the passphrase?
> > >
> > > With it I can generate 4 keys. Why can't I just chose a 10 digit
hexadecimal
> > > encryption key? What has the passphrase to do with it?
> > > I've got a LinkSys WRT54G and I don't succeed in using WEP. What can
be
> > > wrong?
> >
> > Did you put the same key (or passphrase) into the wireless configuration
on
> > your computer? They have to match. If the client takes only one key, use
> > key 1.
>
> What's the benefit of multiple keys? My router (Netgear MR814v2) takes 4,
> but my clients (XP) take 1.

If you fill out a complete keylist on each client, then you can have up to
four clients using different WEP keys, or up to three clients using
different keys, and the router using the fourth. This last scenario makes it
twice as hard to completely crack any WEP router/client transaction. That's
how I use it in a network with only one client. I use the spare pair just to
change keys, so I don't have to generate new ones so often.

I thought XP config let you select the key index, so you can configure all
four keys. Is that not so?


>
> --
> -eben (E-Mail Removed)m home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar
> Are you confident that you appear to be professional in your electronic
> communication? Consider this: A: No
> Q: Can I top post? from (E-Mail Removed)

In article <mTHEc.10352$(E-Mail Removed) >,
gary <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> "Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:cbvfo7$ov4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > What's the benefit of multiple keys? My router (Netgear MR814v2) takes 4,
> > but my clients (XP) take 1.
>
> If you fill out a complete keylist on each client, then you can have up to
> four clients using different WEP keys, or up to three clients using
> different keys, and the router using the fourth. This last scenario makes it
> twice as hard to completely crack any WEP router/client transaction. That's
> how I use it in a network with only one client. I use the spare pair just to
> change keys, so I don't have to generate new ones so often.
>
> I thought XP config let you select the key index, so you can configure all
> four keys. Is that not so?

It does. The advantage, then, of using different keys is that an attacker
using the "listen to lots of packets to guess the key" method has fewer
packets with any one key, yes?

What does the radio button next to each key on the router indicate? The
adjacent help does not say.

It something looks like this:

1: (x) xxxxxxxxxx
2: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx
3: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx
4: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx

--
-eben (E-Mail Removed)m home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar

Drive nail here > < for new monitor.

"gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> escribió en el mensaje
news:mTHEc.10352$(E-Mail Removed) om...
>
> "Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:cbvfo7$ov4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > In article <1guekh0hlaip.gwe7ktedow06$.(E-Mail Removed)>,
> > Barry Jones <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > > On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 01:24:49 +0200, Willhe wrote:
> > >
> > > > What's the use of the passphrase?
> > > >
> > > > With it I can generate 4 keys. Why can't I just chose a 10 digit
> hexadecimal
> > > > encryption key? What has the passphrase to do with it?
> > > > I've got a LinkSys WRT54G and I don't succeed in using WEP. What can
> be
> > > > wrong?
> > >
> > > Did you put the same key (or passphrase) into the wireless
configuration
> on
> > > your computer? They have to match. If the client takes only one key,
use
> > > key 1.
> >
> > What's the benefit of multiple keys? My router (Netgear MR814v2) takes
4,
> > but my clients (XP) take 1.
>
> If you fill out a complete keylist on each client, then you can have up to
> four clients using different WEP keys, or up to three clients using
> different keys, and the router using the fourth.

I don't think so. Only one key is active at a moment.

> This last scenario makes it
> twice as hard to completely crack any WEP router/client transaction.
That's
> how I use it in a network with only one client. I use the spare pair just
to
> change keys, so I don't have to generate new ones so often.

But, you have to change the key in both extremes, client and router (or
AP), in order to work correctly.

> I thought XP config let you select the key index, so you can configure all
> four keys. Is that not so?
>

"Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> escribió en el mensaje
news:cbvl5g$bj1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> In article <mTHEc.10352$(E-Mail Removed) >,
> gary <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> > "Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:cbvfo7$ov4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > >
> > > What's the benefit of multiple keys? My router (Netgear MR814v2)
takes 4,
> > > but my clients (XP) take 1.
> >
> > If you fill out a complete keylist on each client, then you can have up
to
> > four clients using different WEP keys, or up to three clients using
> > different keys, and the router using the fourth. This last scenario
makes it
> > twice as hard to completely crack any WEP router/client transaction.
That's
> > how I use it in a network with only one client. I use the spare pair
just to
> > change keys, so I don't have to generate new ones so often.
> >
> > I thought XP config let you select the key index, so you can configure
all
> > four keys. Is that not so?
>
> It does. The advantage, then, of using different keys is that an attacker
> using the "listen to lots of packets to guess the key" method has fewer
> packets with any one key, yes?


No, I think only one key is active for all your network.

> What does the radio button next to each key on the router indicate? The
> adjacent help does not say.
>
> It something looks like this:
>
> 1: (x) xxxxxxxxxx
> 2: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx
> 3: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx
> 4: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx

Exactily, because yo can select one of de four keys to use. For example
you have 4 keys and you can say to clients that the first key is for this
Monday, the next key for Tuesday .... and if anyone try to crack the key
it will not work the next day.

Regards

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
Fulgen <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> "Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> escribió en el mensaje
> news:cbvl5g$bj1$(E-Mail Removed)...

> > The advantage, then, of using different keys is that an attacker
> > using the "listen to lots of packets to guess the key" method has fewer
> > packets with any one key, yes?
>
> No, I think only one key is active for all your network.
>
> > What does the radio button next to each key on the router indicate?

> yo can select one of de four keys to use. For example
> you have 4 keys and you can say to clients that the first key is for this
> Monday, the next key for Tuesday .... and if anyone try to crack the key
> it will not work the next day.

So you _could_ change it in the router manually, and then go to every client
and change it; this just makes the "change it in the server" step easier?
Doesn't sound like much of a timesaver to me, as you still have to change it
in every client.

Also, that doesn't explain why some (all?) clients can choose a key index.

--
-eben (E-Mail Removed)m home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar

Two atoms are walking along. Suddenly, one stops. The other says,
"What's wrong?" "I've lost an electron." "Are you sure?" "I'm positive!"

"Fulgen" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> escribió en el mensaje
> news:cbvl5g$bj1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > In article <mTHEc.10352$(E-Mail Removed) >,
> > gary <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > >
> > > "Hactar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:cbvfo7$ov4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > >
> > > > What's the benefit of multiple keys? My router (Netgear MR814v2)
> takes 4,
> > > > but my clients (XP) take 1.
> > >
> > > If you fill out a complete keylist on each client, then you can have
up
> to
> > > four clients using different WEP keys, or up to three clients using
> > > different keys, and the router using the fourth. This last scenario
> makes it
> > > twice as hard to completely crack any WEP router/client transaction.
> That's
> > > how I use it in a network with only one client. I use the spare pair
> just to
> > > change keys, so I don't have to generate new ones so often.
> > >
> > > I thought XP config let you select the key index, so you can configure
> all
> > > four keys. Is that not so?
> >
> > It does. The advantage, then, of using different keys is that an
attacker
> > using the "listen to lots of packets to guess the key" method has fewer
> > packets with any one key, yes?
>
>
> No, I think only one key is active for all your network.

If that's the way XP does it, then it is broken in the sense that it does
not comply with the standard. Each WEP-encrypted frame contains an
initialization vector (IV), which includes a 2-bit field specifying the
index of the key in the list globally shared across the entire network. In
other words, each encrypted frame self-identifies the position of the key
used for that frame.

So long as all stations have the same list in the same order, every station
can independently use any configured key. I've done this for over a year,
and it works fine. Of course, I don't use XP config so I don't know that it
isn't broken.

>
> > What does the radio button next to each key on the router indicate? The
> > adjacent help does not say.
> >
> > It something looks like this:
> >
> > 1: (x) xxxxxxxxxx
> > 2: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx
> > 3: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx
> > 4: ( ) xxxxxxxxxx
>
> Exactily, because yo can select one of de four keys to use. For
example
> you have 4 keys and you can say to clients that the first key is for this
> Monday, the next key for Tuesday .... and if anyone try to crack the
key
> it will not work the next day.
>
> Regards
>