WEP and MAC Association Control

Is there any point in having both WEP and MAC Association Control in place?

If the router is only going to 'talk' to a specific set of MAC addresses, surely WEP is redundant?

Hmm, I am not so sure Tony, What happens if someone spoof's the Mac address ?


Paul

Erm...you can spoof a MAC address?

I'll leave WEP on for now I think.

I presume the encryption/decryption overhead can't be that significant?

TheBramble said:

Erm...you can spoof a MAC address?

I'll leave WEP on for now I think.

I presume the encryption/decryption overhead can't be that significant?

Click to expand...

yes, mac addresses can be captured and spoofed.

Use WEP, yes .there is a performance overhead depending on the encryption level that you set ie. 128, 68 bit etc.

As with most things this varies with manaufacturer and the location of your laptop with respect to your wireless router.

Really, best to leave it on ....

TheBramble said:

Erm...you can spoof a MAC address?

I'll leave WEP on for now I think.

I presume the encryption/decryption overhead can't be that significant?

Click to expand...

Without WEP anyone local to you (within physical range of your wireless network) could use your network signal to access the internet. Say someone was sat outside your house within range of your wireless network with a laptop that was wireless enabled - they simply could surf the net using your signal. It is not illegal for them to do this. This is because your network is listed as "unprotected" (to any "passerby"). Unprotected has both a legal and technical meaning in this case.

The MAC authentication will stop anyone accessing your PC/network from the other side of the planet via the Internet i.e it will stop access from anyone outside your wireless network range.

WEP will stop anyone from inside your network range using your signal to access the net - hope this is clear. Well, everyone except the missus and the kids...

JR

blackmoon said:

Say someone was sat outside your house within range of your wireless network with a laptop that was wireless enabled - they simply could surf the net using your signal. It is not illegal for them to do this.

Click to expand...

Try telling this guy it's not illegal!

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/2005/07/27/watch_out_for_that_wifi.html

mutantcar said:

Try telling this guy it's not illegal!

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/2005/07/27/watch_out_for_that_wifi.html

Click to expand...

Clearly if you are going out looking to do this systematically then that's one situation (as in the case quoted). Ambiguity arises where someone argues that access was unintentional / accidental, say, between neighbours.

Btw. as far as I can see, one of the sub-links from the main article you refer to confirms that there is no specific UK law against it.

JR

blackmoon said:

one of the sub-links from the main article you refer to confirms that there is no specific UK law against it.

JR

Click to expand...

That was written 6 months before the one about the court case.

The courts obviously aren't bothered by how 'specific' it is. It cost him £500 :cheesy: