I won’t get into the technical aspects regarding how wireless networks can be attacked and the methods that can be employed to make them more secure, but I can offer an overview of the three wireless security standards and how they compare to each other to give you an idea of where you stand. Just compare the information present on the access point, its original box, or the manufacturer’s web site to learn what your WAP is capable of.

The first security standard developed for WAPs is known as WEP (wired equivalent privacy). Older WAPs and less savvy network administrators will employ this method for protecting a wireless network. A pre-shared key is the best defense of WEP. Most people do not change the WEP key frequently which is like having the same password for all users on your network. WEP can be easily defeated by an inexperienced hacker using simple tools, making this a poor security choice. If your access point is more than two years old, it probably uses WEP and should be replaced immediately. Using the front door analogy, WEP is like locking your screen door, and giving every person who visits the house a key. People can easily peek inside, too many people have a key to open the lock, and an intruder could just cut a hole in the screen to unlock the door from the inside.

To address the problems inherent with WEP, the wireless industry developed a standard known as WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). WPA requires the use of passphrases (long passwords), and a unique encryption key for each user that frequently changes. Other technological improvements were made to improve security, as well. WPA was designed to be backwards compatible with WEP access cards, giving administrators an affordable upgrade path to improved security. WPA is like installing a solid front door to your house, and using the lock on the doorknob. Intruders can’t peek inside and it is more difficult for them to gain entry to your house.