Wireless standards, and other accessing your wireless network

Hi,

Im thinking of getting a wireless router and just wanted to know:

1. Is it worth getting one now or is there going to be a new standard etc
soon?

2. What is security like on a Wireless LAN. How easy is it to close your
WLAN so others cant access it?

Thanks

In article <UO4Fb.622$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Arun Hallan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
:Im thinking of getting a wireless router and just wanted to know:

:1. Is it worth getting one now or is there going to be a new standard etc
:soon?

There's a new standard every few weeks. Most standards are irrelevant
to most people.

The next major wireless standard in line is, as far as I know, 802.11i,
which has to do with Transmitted Power Control (TPC), and with
automatic selection of frequency (FS??) in cases of interference. These
two features are requirements for 802.11a in Europe, but vendors
developing these features seem to be putting them in to 802.11g and b/g
combinations. I read just a few days ago that in practice there has
been a migration in Europe towards 802.11b/g to avoid TPC... but that
could be because there hasn't been a standard for it in the marketplace
yet. Cisco's Aironet 1100 and 1200 impliment the draft 802.11i
standards, as do a few other models by other vendors.

Which standard is up after that, I don't know. 802.11k perhaps.
Or perhaps the three manufacturers doing 108 Mbps over two 802.11g
channels will get together and iron out a common approach.
--
We don't need no side effect-ing
We don't need no scope control
No global variables for execution
Hey! Did you leave those args alone? -- decvax!utzoo!utcsrgv!roderick

there wont be any "NEW" standard comming soon, more like improvement over
existing one. And to be widely accept "new" standard need to support
existing one so. Have a look here for comparision
http://www.linksys.com/products/wirelessstandards.asp

Access point generate a key (10 hexi digits for 64bit and 26 digits for
128bit encription), each computer need access to lan have to enter the key.
You can re-generate the key anytime, once connected security become like
normal wired lan, (as in files/drives sharing password etc etc). If you want
to go a step further, you can refuse all connection accept for trusted
device by means of MAC Address.


"Arun Hallan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:UO4Fb.622$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> Im thinking of getting a wireless router and just wanted to know:
>
> 1. Is it worth getting one now or is there going to be a new standard etc
> soon?
>
> 2. What is security like on a Wireless LAN. How easy is it to close your
> WLAN so others cant access it?
>
> Thanks
>
>

there wont be any "NEW" standard comming soon, more like improvement over
existing one. And to be widely accept "new" standard need to support
existing one so. Have a look here for comparision
http://www.linksys.com/products/wirelessstandards.asp

Access point generate a key (10 hexi digits for 64bit and 26 digits for
128bit encription), each computer need access to lan have to enter the key.
You can re-generate the key anytime, once connected security become like
normal wired lan, (as in files/drives sharing password etc etc). If you want
to go a step further, you can refuse all connection accept for trusted
device by means of MAC Address.

"Arun Hallan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:UO4Fb.622$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> Im thinking of getting a wireless router and just wanted to know:
>
> 1. Is it worth getting one now or is there going to be a new standard etc
> soon?
>
> 2. What is security like on a Wireless LAN. How easy is it to close your
> WLAN so others cant access it?
>
> Thanks
>
>

802.11i is the security enhancement that replaces WEP. WPA is a partial
implementation of it.

802.11e, which is is Quality of Service, should also be coming along in
2004.

Way down the road, maybe 2006, 802.11n is aiming at "real" throughputs in
excess of 100mbps ("real" meaning payload throughput, after subtracting for
framing and protocol overhead.

802.11i should just be a firmware upgrade, especially if you bought 802.11g
equipment with newer chipsets. 802.11e may also be just an upgrade.

You won't need 802.11e unless you plan on using VOIP or interactive
multimedia. You may never need 802.11n.

See http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...le.php/3103461.

See also

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...le.php/1439551

for an overview, although it's a little out of date.


"Walter Roberson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bs33qj$btc$(E-Mail Removed)...
> In article <UO4Fb.622$(E-Mail Removed)>,
> Arun Hallan <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> :Im thinking of getting a wireless router and just wanted to know:
>
> :1. Is it worth getting one now or is there going to be a new standard etc
> :soon?
>
> There's a new standard every few weeks. Most standards are irrelevant
> to most people.
>
> The next major wireless standard in line is, as far as I know, 802.11i,
> which has to do with Transmitted Power Control (TPC), and with
> automatic selection of frequency (FS??) in cases of interference. These
> two features are requirements for 802.11a in Europe, but vendors
> developing these features seem to be putting them in to 802.11g and b/g
> combinations. I read just a few days ago that in practice there has
> been a migration in Europe towards 802.11b/g to avoid TPC... but that
> could be because there hasn't been a standard for it in the marketplace
> yet. Cisco's Aironet 1100 and 1200 impliment the draft 802.11i
> standards, as do a few other models by other vendors.
>
> Which standard is up after that, I don't know. 802.11k perhaps.
> Or perhaps the three manufacturers doing 108 Mbps over two 802.11g
> channels will get together and iron out a common approach.
> --
> We don't need no side effect-ing
> We don't need no scope control
> No global variables for execution
> Hey! Did you leave those args alone? --
decvax!utzoo!utcsrgv!roderick

Both the WEP and WPA encryption can be cracked given enough time and effort.
Similarly it is possible to discover and spoof valid MAC address.
It's is unlikely someone would put in the time and effort to crack your
domestic wifi,
all they are likely to get is your credit card No. and it could take months.
More likely someone might like to use your internet access. How far out of
your property can the signal be received ? You can try to limit that.
Regards,
Martin

In article <d8sFb.3756$(E-Mail Removed)>, Martin² wrote:

> ....WPA encryption can be cracked given enough time and effort.

If you think you're going to break WPA+PSK AES with a non-dictionary
passphrase and the key changing every five minutes within any
reasonable amount of time, then please be my guest.

"Martin²" <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

> Both the WEP and WPA encryption can be cracked given enough time and
> effort.

There's an important difference. WEP has a published cryptographic
weakness that's widely documented and known, and can be cracked with
freely available software using passive snooping.

The only vulnerability I've heard of with WPA exists only in theory at
this point (the white paper regarding the efficiency of brute forcing
a simple pre-shared key).

Feel free to crack it and get your 20 minutes of fame in the security
community. I don't think it's been done yet.

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/