wireless security WEP WPA

dzee · March 5th, 2006, 05:10 PM

Hello, looking at wireless adapters (pci & usb) to get, just wondering from what i read WEP is not very secure & WPA is much better, is this true? most of what im seeing all seems to be WEP not WPA? is WPA rare or something?

Should i specifically look for WPA or does it not really matter if i get WEP?

**GroundZero3** · March 5th, 2006, 05:33 PM

WEP came out with the wireless standard B. Very few cards B support WPA.

WPA came out with the G standard.

WEP can be broken into in 5 minutes (search google videos and they have a film on it being done. WEP also has a larger overhead and than WPA which can cause some decrease in speeds.

If you are using G you should use WPA, if you are looking into B WEP is fine. (its better than nothing) Most of the people see a network encrypted (which im sure more than one network will show up on a scan) the user will ususally not waste time trying to break into a wireless network when there is an open one aviable.

dzee · March 5th, 2006, 05:39 PM

Oh thx thats perfect

Ill have a look at the router & see if its g or b.

iill post back tomorrow when i find out.

dzee · March 7th, 2006, 10:00 PM

update====

well it turns out it supports both 802.11 B & G.

can you reccomend some wireless adapters? usb or pci whichever is better or cheaper!

thx

**GroundZero3** · March 7th, 2006, 10:03 PM

I prefer PCI for computer, and PCMCIA for laptop

What model is the router?

G is backwards compatible with B

elroy · March 7th, 2006, 10:10 PM

I've heard a lot about problems with USB adapters.
I would get PCI.

HOlmes101 · March 7th, 2006, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elroy

I've heard a lot about problems with USB adapters.
I would get PCI.

I second that notion.

HOlmes101 · March 7th, 2006, 10:25 PM

Not to be mean or anything but it took the google guy 10 minutes... But you dont have to go through that kind of crap anyway, use my favorite program -- cain.

dzee · March 7th, 2006, 10:29 PM

god i cant find a link to the router/hub/whatever it is, ill have to look in the manuel & see if i can get you some more information on it. ill post back tomorrow when i have access to the manuel, its not at my place atm.

thx 4 replys.

RamonGTP · March 8th, 2006, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elroy

I've heard a lot about problems with USB adapters.
I would get PCI.

USB adapters have their advantages and disadvantages. They generally get a better signal becuase you can place them pretty much where you want. Reliabality is a factor though. However, I have found that hooking them up to a POWERED USB HUB instead of directly into a PC's USB ports makes them every bit as reliable as the PCI cards. Assuming of course they're hooked to a good quality HUB.