Submit Hint Search The Forums LinksStatsPollsHeadlinesRSS
14,000 hints and counting!


Click here to return to the 'A quick introduction to WiFi Security' hint
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
A quick introduction to WiFi Security
Authored by: ennonymous on Dec 14, '04 04:00:03PM

Even if some may think I'm being pedantic, but there's one small error in the hint that I'd like to correct.

The key lengths in WEP are either 40 bits and 104 bits _or_ 64 bits and 128 bits. This is because the WEP algorithm adds a 24 bit so-called "initialization vector" (IV) to the key and uses this "compound key" to encrypt the data. So the shorter keys are 40 bits in length, adding up to 64 bits with the IV, and the longer ones are 104 bits and 128 bits, respectively.

Of course, all the points Karl made about WEP encryption being insecure and inferior to WPA are all true, whatever the key lengths may be. WEP keys are just too short (and the algorithm open to attack) for today's environments. I just wanted to get the terminology right.



[ Reply to This | # ]
A quick introduction to WiFi Security
Authored by: raider on Dec 14, '04 05:01:44PM

Which is 38 bits and 102 bits _or_ 62 bits and 126 bits (respectively) more than its worth. [smile]



[ Reply to This | # ]