WEP question

Super_Chrono · 08-10-2009, 09:19 PM

Hello Tech support community,

I know WEP is the outdated encryption out there, and WPA2 is heaps better..
but for my Nintendo DSi to connect with some of my games, WEP needs to be the one used not WPA/2.

Therefore I ask what are the disadvantages of using WEP?? and is there any harm in me using WEP instead of WPA2? I am not worried about neighbours trying to crack it because they are all old folks who probably don't have a computer let alone know how to hack lol.

Another similar question, will anyone around the world be able to hack your WEP? or do they have to be within a certain radius of your home network? and what exactly would they be able to retrieve from cracking it?? some examples would help.

Thanks.

StephenSJ · 08-11-2009, 04:54 PM

Hi Super Chrono,
I think the answer depends on how your wireless access point is setup. Anyone could sit outside your house and attempt to get on the network by attempting to logon with all the different key combinations starting from 0 to n. If your access point is setup correctly there will be a delay after an incorrrect logon attempt, maybe of a few seconds or so. This will prevent any one from logging on as there are 1.e+36 different combinations to try and this would take a long time with no delay between attempts but even longer with a few seconds delay. WEP can be cracked but depending on how your access point is set up it will take a certain amount of time, unless you have got an nme you should be ok. PS some of the grandads are the best hackers cause they've been there from the get go. Hope this helps.

**ArmaTheGreek** · 08-13-2009, 05:47 PM

To answer your first question, disadvantages of WEP..

- WEP is hex and hex is limited to numbers 0-9 and letters A- F. Therefore it is not really that secured. Some modems are capable of setting WEP to 128 bit (it means more characters up 20+ i think.). WPA is more secured because you can enter any combination like numbers, letters, lower and uppercase letters and special characters. (hackers will have a hard time cracking this one but it is still crackable.)

To answer second question..

- There's no harm in using WEP since you're the only person who knows the key and you can also personalize it instead of using the default WEP from your modem.

and lastly to answer your third question..

- It is possible to hack your WEP and those highly intelligent teenagers or adults who wants free internet access will do that and they can do that if they want to. They will just do that to use your internet connection for some of their exploits instead of using their own connection or just using your connection for free. (free internet connection forever, cool right? Lol!)

08-10-2009, 09:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Super_Chrono Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1 OS: XP SP3	WEP question Hello Tech support community, I know WEP is the outdated encryption out there, and WPA2 is heaps better.. but for my Nintendo DSi to connect with some of my games, WEP needs to be the one used not WPA/2. Therefore I ask what are the disadvantages of using WEP?? and is there any harm in me using WEP instead of WPA2? I am not worried about neighbours trying to crack it because they are all old folks who probably don't have a computer let alone know how to hack lol. Another similar question, will anyone around the world be able to hack your WEP? or do they have to be within a certain radius of your home network? and what exactly would they be able to retrieve from cracking it?? some examples would help. Thanks. Last edited by Super_Chrono; 08-10-2009 at 09:21 PM.

08-11-2009, 04:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
StephenSJ Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2 OS: WinXP SP2, CentOS4.4/5.3	Re: WEP question Hi Super Chrono, I think the answer depends on how your wireless access point is setup. Anyone could sit outside your house and attempt to get on the network by attempting to logon with all the different key combinations starting from 0 to n. If your access point is setup correctly there will be a delay after an incorrrect logon attempt, maybe of a few seconds or so. This will prevent any one from logging on as there are 1.e+36 different combinations to try and this would take a long time with no delay between attempts but even longer with a few seconds delay. WEP can be cracked but depending on how your access point is set up it will take a certain amount of time, unless you have got an nme you should be ok. PS some of the grandads are the best hackers cause they've been there from the get go. Hope this helps.

08-13-2009, 05:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
ArmaTheGreek Pass The Oreos Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cainta, PH Posts: 570 OS: Windows XP SP2 My System	Re: WEP question To answer your first question, disadvantages of WEP.. - WEP is hex and hex is limited to numbers 0-9 and letters A- F. Therefore it is not really that secured. Some modems are capable of setting WEP to 128 bit (it means more characters up 20+ i think.). WPA is more secured because you can enter any combination like numbers, letters, lower and uppercase letters and special characters. (hackers will have a hard time cracking this one but it is still crackable.) To answer second question.. - There's no harm in using WEP since you're the only person who knows the key and you can also personalize it instead of using the default WEP from your modem. and lastly to answer your third question.. - It is possible to hack your WEP and those highly intelligent teenagers or adults who wants free internet access will do that and they can do that if they want to. They will just do that to use your internet connection for some of their exploits instead of using their own connection or just using your connection for free. (free internet connection forever, cool right? Lol!) __________________ Regards, Arma The Greek "Look using your eyes but see with your mind." Last edited by ArmaTheGreek; 08-13-2009 at 05:53 PM.