Which devices should share encryption?

I have read many articles about safeguarding of wireless connections.

Yet I have some simple questions that I don't seem to be able to find
answers to.

My notebook is used primarily together with an adsl
modem/router/accesspoint that supports both WPA as well as WEP.
The notebook does also support WPA as well as WEP.

If I set the same WPA (or WEP) key in both devices, it will probably
work OK.

However, I sometimes use the same notebook in two other locations,
which only support WEP, but so far have no encryption installed.

If I would try to use my notebook, now with encryption installed, in
these unprotected other environments (routers/accesspoints), would it
be able to communicate with these unprotected devices?

Or should (the same?) key also be installed in these, sofar,
unprotected devices?

And if so, does that immediately create the need to install (the
same?) encryption keys in all clients that are normaly used in these
other environments, with these previously unprotected accesspoints?

And how will a client, with encryption installed, operate together
with a public accesspoint (hotspot)?

Joop Klijn

On 12-Jan-2006, Joop <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I have read many articles about safeguarding of wireless connections.
>
> Yet I have some simple questions that I don't seem to be able to find
> answers to.
>
> My notebook is used primarily together with an adsl
> modem/router/accesspoint that supports both WPA as well as WEP.
> The notebook does also support WPA as well as WEP.
>
> If I set the same WPA (or WEP) key in both devices, it will probably
> work OK.
>
> However, I sometimes use the same notebook in two other locations,
> which only support WEP, but so far have no encryption installed.
>
> If I would try to use my notebook, now with encryption installed, in
> these unprotected other environments (routers/accesspoints), would it
> be able to communicate with these unprotected devices?
>
> Or should (the same?) key also be installed in these, sofar,
> unprotected devices?
>
> And if so, does that immediately create the need to install (the
> same?) encryption keys in all clients that are normaly used in these
> other environments, with these previously unprotected accesspoints?
>
> And how will a client, with encryption installed, operate together
> with a public accesspoint (hotspot)?
>
> Joop Klijn

More than likely, your wireless client allows for profiles. In other words,
you can create a profile for any access point you can associate with. Just
because you enable encryption at home, doesn't mean you cannot communicate
with an unencrypted device elsewhere. If your notebook is set to receive an
IP address automatically and the "unprotected" access points have DHCP set
to automatically assign IP addresses, then all you have to do is connect to
that access point once you are in range. The configuration application
should detect the access point(s) you want to connect to. I hope I was clear
with my explanation. I'm very tired and am fighting sleep. Chat with you
later.

--
----------
Just Me, D

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 19:22:02 +0100, in alt.internet.wireless , Joop
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

(at home, he can use WPA)
>If I set the same WPA (or WEP) key in both devices, it will probably
>work OK.
>
>However, I sometimes use the same notebook in two other locations,
>which only support WEP, but so far have no encryption installed.

No problem. You would have a different connection profile for each
location, since it would be connecting to a different access point.
Windows manages these as different network connections.

>If I would try to use my notebook, now with encryption installed, in
>these unprotected other environments (routers/accesspoints), would it
>be able to communicate with these unprotected devices?

Yes.

>Or should (the same?) key also be installed in these, sofar,
>unprotected devices?

no.

>And if so, does that immediately create the need to install (the
>same?) encryption keys in all clients that are normaly used in these
>other environments, with these previously unprotected accesspoints?

it would, which is of course impossible, and would furthermore mean
these strangers could go to your house and connect there too.

Mark McIntyre
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