Re: WEP unsafe, shock horror

At 16:32:59 on 19/10/2007, mentalguy2004 delighted uk.legal by
announcing:


"Richard Perkin" <f000nurdle@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:5nron4FjqsuuU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >"mentalguy2004"
<none@xxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:am1Si.28203$DB2.18652@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

I understood that router encryption (WEP, WPA etc) was designed
and used to stop people intercepting (sensitive) data between a
wireless PC and router, not to prevent other people using your
internet connection.
The requirement addressed by WEP, WPA and variants is for
*authentication* and encryption. Unfortunately, WEP is badly
designed and has serious weaknesses both in the authentication
mechanism and in encryption.

When a WEP-encrypted wireless network has been cracked, knowledge of
the WEP key allows an intruder to correctly authenticate and
associate with the access point, and with that to gain access to
other resources on the network. Where the network includes an
Internet connection (as it will do in the usual case of a wireless
router with a WAN connection to an ISP) then Internet access is
immediately available

OK, but with MAC filters in place, is it still the case that someone
can access the net through my wireless router, even if they crack my
WEP password?

I was under the impression that only the PC's/laptops/PDA's that I
explicitly configure (by MAC address) in my router software, are
allowed to connect to my network/internet. I realise that if the WEP
is hacked, someone can intercept my uploads and downloads, but I
didn't think they could surf the net on my connection.

Well, they'll probably also have your MAC address as well so they can
spoof that.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: wireless PC connected to network connection
    ... >network while watching the router log. ... >wireless pc had connected (obviously not the unidentified one whose MAC ... >the Axim, put in the new WEP info, and connected again. ... Why the frequent connections? ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: Connecting Windoze Laptop to Mac Wireless Network
    ... Short answer, no all is not well, you're using WEP which is trivial to ... needed wireless at each location and to establish a VPN between the two ... My decision was to have separate devices for WiFi, router and firewall. ...
    (uk.comp.sys.mac)
  • Connected but not really?
    ... wireless computer, which then asked if we have a extra cable or a USB ... phrase and 128-bit WEP key. ... I brought up the wireless network connectiion ... I don't recall if the router DHCP ...
    (alt.internet.wireless)
  • Re: God I hate macs
    ... I've spent hours trying to set up the WEP password and trying other ... router, but won't travel to the internet. ... The only way I can connect to the internet is without wireless ... On the Mac, for some unfathomable reason, you can't just type ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: I feel secure, am I ?
    ... I would use WPA if your devices support it... ... I am also surprised you say your only using 64-bit WEP ... > I've just replaced my Netgear 4-Port router with a Linksys Wireless WRT54GS ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web)