Chapter 2
Network Setup and Extender Connections
8
Media Center Extender
8
Media Center Extender
Wireless Security
Wireless networks are convenient and easy to install, so homes with
high-speed Internet access are adopting them at a rapid pace. Because
wireless networking operates by sending information over radio waves,
it can be more vulnerable to intruders than a traditional wired network.
Like signals from your cellular or cordless phones, signals from your
wireless network can also be intercepted. Since you cannot physically
prevent someone from connecting to your wireless network, you need
to take some additional steps to keep your network secure.
Your entire network must match security levels for each device to work.
The security levels available for your Media Center Extender are WEP,
WPA/PSK TKIP or WPA2/PSK AES. If your network is unencrypted, you can
also choose that, however it is not recommended.
Encryption protects data transmitted over a wireless network. Wi-Fi
Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) and Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP)
offer different levels of security for wireless communication.
A network encrypted with WPA/WPA2 is more secure than a network
encrypted with WEP, because WPA/WPA2 uses dynamic key encryption.
To protect the information as it passes over the airwaves, you should
enable the highest level of encryption supported by your network
equipment.
WEP is an older encryption standard and may be the only option available
on some older devices that do not support WPA.
You can also purchase a wireless powerline adapter, such as Linksys
PLE200 to improve wireless network speed and security.
