Three ways to encrypt wireless routers

Wireless routers offer three types of wireless security: WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK, WPA/WPA2, and WEP. Security settings are different under different security types.

1. Wpa-psk/wpa2-psk

WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK security type is actually a simplified version of WPA/WPA2, which is based on the shared key WPA model, security is very high, setting is also relatively simple, suitable for ordinary home users and small businesses. The specific settings are shown in the following illustration:

Authentication type: This item is used to select the Safe mode used by the system, that is, Automatic, WPA-PSK, Wpa2-psk.

Automatic: If selected, the router automatically chooses WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK security mode based on the host request.

Encryption algorithm: This is used to select the security algorithm for wireless data encryption, the options are automatic, TKIP, AES. The default option is automatic, and when selected, the router automatically chooses TKIP or AES encryption when it is actually needed. Note that the 11N mode does not support the TKIP algorithm.

PSK Password: This entry is WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK's initial setting key, set when required for 8-63 ASCII characters

character or 8-64 hexadecimal characters.

Group key update Cycle: This sets the periodic update cycle of broadcast and multicast keys in seconds, with a minimum value of 30, or 0, which means no updates are made.

2. WPA/WPA2

WPA/WPA2 is a more powerful encryption algorithm than WEP, choosing this type of security, with the router using a RADIUS server for authentication and the WPA or WPA2 security mode of the key. This security type is not recommended for ordinary users because of the costly and complex maintenance of a dedicated authentication server.

3. WEP

WEP is the acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy, a basic encryption method that is less secure than the other two types of security. Select the WEP security type and the router will use 802.11 basic WEP security modes. Note here that because 802.11N does not support this encryption method, if you choose this encryption, the router may work at a lower transfer rate.

It is particularly necessary to note that three kinds of wireless encryption have different effects on the transmission rate of wireless networks. Because the IEEE 802.11n standard does not support high throughput rates with WEP encryption or TKIP encryption algorithms, the wireless transmission rate will automatically be limited to 11g levels if the user chooses either WEP encryption or WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK encryption TKIP algorithm ( Theoretical value of 54Mbps, the actual test results in the 20Mbps or so.

That is, if the user is using an IEEE 802.11n standard wireless product (theoretical rate of 150M or 300M), then wireless encryption can only choose WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK AES algorithm encryption, otherwise the wireless transmission rate will be significantly reduced. And if the user is using the IEEE 802.11g standard wireless products, then three encryption methods can be very good compatibility, but still do not recommend the choice of WEP this older and cracked encryption, it is best to upgrade the wireless route.