Should You Use WEP, WPA, or WPA2 on the Wireless Network in Your Gainesville Apartment?
Wireless networks are an increasingly common part of residences, as more and more of the devices we use every day require them. While our smart phones, tablets, game consoles, laptops, and other devices are sending massive amounts of data through the air, it’s important to remember that these messages can potentially be intercepted like any other electronic communication. Most routers offer some combination of the three main wireless encryption protocols, WEP, WPA and WPA2, and it pays to know the benefits and limitations of each so you can choose which one is the best for your home Wi-Fi network.
The most basic form of encryption is WEP, the original encryption laid out in the 802.11 wireless standards. WEP encryption is compatible with wireless devices of nearly any age, and is still the default encryption of most wireless access points. It uses the simplest algorithm of the three major protocols and has both benefits and weaknesses. The simplicity makes it easy for routers to process transmissions and is very unlikely to cause delays or dropped packets, however it’s also the easiest for “wardrivers” (hackers who break into wireless networks) to invade. In fact, a novice wardriver with programs freely available online can crack WEP encryption in potentially less than a minute. It’s best used on networks without personal information that need to support older devices or where poor signal strength causes problems with other encryptions.
WPA and WPA2 are the replacement protocols developed with 802.11i to provide more robust security than WEP. However, these protocols did not gain wide acceptance until 2004 (for WPA) and 2006 (for WPA2), so some older devices may not support these types of encryption. They use more complex, rotating ciphers that are much harder to crack than WEP, however they are also more difficult to process and may cause delays on basic home routers during periods of high use. WPA2 is the more secure of the two, using 256 bits compared to the 128 bits in standard WPA, but consequently it’s also the most likely to cause processing delays in routers. Whenever possible, you should try to use WPA2 on the wireless network in your Gainesville apartment, and WPA as a back-up.
For more information on how to use technology wisely, please browse the articles section of our site. And, to learn about joining Bellamay Grand’s apartment community, contact our office today.
