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When it comes to the 802.11 standard (WiFi), there are two types of security, which can be deployed on the wireless network. The most common and least secure method is Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and the much more secure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). It is important to note: Independent research conducted by wifi.com staff indicates better than 50% of home-based wireless networks and 40% of wifi hotspot providers do not deploy security measures.
For home-based and most other consumer-grade wireless networks, security is controlled at the access point or router. The current security settings on wifi-capable access points are; none, WEP, WPA, and WPA2. The key difference between WPA and WPA2 is the latter applies an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which has been adopted by the U.S. government.
In general WEP security will keep the average person from using your network. However, in August of 2001 a published article explained how the WEP encryption can be attacked and the passkey recovered in about 10 minutes time. Thus, if someone really wants in, they can gain access to the network and ultimately, your computer.
When securing a home network, wifi.com recommends using the WPA2 (AES) option. With the adoption of the next 802.11 standard (802.11n) the creation of a secure environment using WPA2 (AES) will become easier for the end user.
There are two well-known ways to access the Internet; via a wired or wireless connection.
In general, better than 80% of Americans access the Internet through a broadband (highspeed) wired connection. There are a smaller and shrinking percentage of Americans who use a dialup connection (through the phone lines). Either way, these are both wired connections.
The primary broadband access methods utilized from home are Cable, DSL, or Satellite. The cable connection is often offered through your cable TV provider and the mode of connectivity is through the same lines used to send the signal to your cable TV. The DSL connection is typically offered by your phone company and the mode of connectivity is through the phone lines. However, unlike dialup, DSL offers much higher bandwidth and connection speeds. The satellite connection is primarily offered through independent satellite providers and the mode of connectivity is through a wireless signal, which is collected by a dish you attach to the outside of your home. The signal is then transferred to the modem through a cable/wire from the dish. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, you should research to verify which is best for your purposes.
Other than satellite, one can obtain a wireless connection through an access point or router. In essence, an existing wired (cable, dsl) connection can be transformed at the access point, into a wireless signal, which allows you to do all the same things you normally do with your wired connection. Granted, there can be some speed drops associated with these wireless connections. However, most Internet users would likely not be able to tell the difference.
Wireless connectivity is just starting to blossom, especially in the U.S. There are thousands of wireless hotspots – which are typically referred to as “wifi” hotspots. These hotspots are wired local area networks, which have transformed the wired signal at a central location (router or access point) and then the signal is sent wirelessly to devices (like your computer) within the hotspots range. Typically these ranges are anywhere between 50-300 feet from the access point.
wifi.com has set out to simplify the process of connecting to a wireless Internet signal. It is our goal to make it easier for you.
