The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Security questions... confused!

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by makeitcount, Mar 16, 2007.

  1. makeitcount

    makeitcount Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have a Belkin Wireless Pre-N router which I am in the process of setting up.

    Now under security I have the following options, and I'm curious to which combination is the most secure? (I know the PSK should be as long and as complicated as possible, but that's about it)

    Security mode:
    1) Disabled
    2) WPA/WPA2-Personal(PSK) (I'm assuming this is best?)
    3) 128bit WEP
    4) 64bit WEP
    5)WPA/WPA2-Enterprise(RADIUS)

    Authentication:
    1) WPA-PSK
    2) WPA2-PSK
    3) WPA-PSK +WPA2-PSK

    Encryption Technique:
    1) TKIP
    2) AES
    3) TKIP + AES

    Also one last question, can people outside of my network access the router setup (192.168.2.1) when I have these processes in order? (ie how important is it to have a very hard to guess password for that page)

    Thanks =)
     
    makeitcount, Mar 16, 2007
    #1
  2. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,856
    Messages:
    3,564
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Any security is better than nothing

    1) WPA is better than WEP, in all cases
    2) I'm not sure between TKIP v. AES, but I would assume the option for BOTH is the best!
     
    Gautam, Mar 16, 2007
    #2
  3. WackyT

    WackyT Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    906
    Messages:
    1,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    WPA2 is better than WPA
    WPA is better than WEP
    WEP is better than Disabled

    You're gonna have to use Personal (PSK) unless you want to set up a RADIUS server.

    Both AES and TKIP work fine, as long as you use a long random passphrase.
     
    WackyT, Mar 16, 2007
    #3
  4. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,020
    Messages:
    3,439
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    If you did not change the default password, any drive by can access your admin. Change the default SSID too and hide it.
     
    blue68f100, Mar 16, 2007
    #4
  5. makeitcount

    makeitcount Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    makeitcount, Mar 17, 2007
    #5
  6. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,020
    Messages:
    3,439
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Hidding the SSID does not stop hackers from trying. It prevents the users who has their wireless set to connect to all, from attempting to connect.

    WPA(2) if NB card supports, -PSK TKIP. You should be prompted for a pass phrases. Use a random generated key from GRC.com, copy to notepad and paste to field. Save notepad to a usb pindrive and use it to set up your other wireless devices.
     
    blue68f100, Mar 17, 2007
    #6
  7. WackyT

    WackyT Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    906
    Messages:
    1,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    What are you going to be using; Disabled, WEP, WPA, or WPA2?
     
    WackyT, Mar 17, 2007
    #7
  8. makeitcount

    makeitcount Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have no idea, that's why I'm asking. Obviously I want what is most secure =)

    Especially Authentication number 3 and Encryption technique number 3 are confusing me as it looks like it has both?
     
    makeitcount, Mar 18, 2007
    #8
  9. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,020
    Messages:
    3,439
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    You want option 2 then 3 then 1, if that helps.
     
    blue68f100, Mar 18, 2007
    #9