Wireless Network Security
Ablah Library Wichita State University
By Syed Shahzad Ali

In a wireless network we can have four levels of security

1-       SSID based security

2-       WEP based security

3-       MAC Address based Security

4-       RADIUS Server based (UID/password) Security

Equipment/Software Used

• Cisco Aironet 340 Series 11MBPs AP (Access Points)
• AIR-AP340
• 2.5 GHz
• DS 4: 11MBPs
• WiFi Compatible
• Cisco Aironet 340 Series 11MBPs PCMCI Wireless LAN Adapter
• AIR-PCM340
• 2.4 GHz
• DS 4: 11MBPs
• WiFi Compatible
• Dell Latitude Laptops
• Intel Pentium III
• Windows 2000 Professional
• Cisco CEM (Client Encryption Manager)
• Cisco ACU (Aironet Client Utility)
• Novell Client for Windows NT/2000

SSID based Security Configuration

It is the most common and basic security measure that is being followed in the network that we are running in Ablah Library at this point of time.

On the client side we have following setting

WEP Based Security Configuration

This is the area where we define two Secret WEP keys, one for transmission and one for reception. Assigning only one WEP key will not do the job.

This screen shot confirms that WEP is enabled and running.

This screen shot indicates that the client is associated and authenticated to the Access Point whose IP Address is 156.26.100.212

WEP is the most secure way to protect the wireless network. And this is clearly depicted by the following screen shot.

On the Access Point Side

Click on Setup

Click on Security

Click On Radio Data Encryption (WEP)

Enter WEP Key 1 and then WEP Key 2 here.

Make sure that at least 2 keys must be entered, one for transmission and one for reception. Otherwise this configuration won’t work at all. The client information in the following diagram clearly shows that the WEP key is enabled and running.