is WEP secure ?

[webbo3]

my son has a nintendo DS and wants to hook it up to the internet but the settings on my router are different than WEP, is it safe to change them?

Dave.

[dizmouk2009]

To give you a simple answer, it isn't as secure as WPA-PSK encryption. It depends how often you feel you might have someone sat outside your house in a transit van with a laptop and a set of fancy tools. Personally I would set it to WEP (128 bit encryption) and hope someone doesn't try such thing.

[albaqwerty]

am now moving my van.......


sorry couldn't resist :)

[dizmouk2009]

I was about to ask where webbo lived as well, damn looks like I'm going to have to go somewhere else :P

[cherrychapstick]

my router is set on wep i dint realise it wasnt as secure i have a password and it had to be wep so i could work my pocket pc off it

[dizmouk2009]

A few years ago an un-named individual :) manage to get past WEP encrytion. I wouldn't worry too much cherrychapstick! The chances of anyone even trying it are 10000/1 unless you live near to alba or someone who is not me :)

[webbo3]

its currently set on WPA-PSK, i did look at WEP 64bit and 128 bit, and wasnt sure if it was more OR less secure, as the DS only works on WEP would it be ok with a very good password or is it not worth the risk.

Oh and thanks for the informative answers.

Dave.

[ChuckFickens]

WEP is plenty good enough to keep out the chancers who just want a free internet connection.

if somebody was really intent on hacking into your wireless it can be done regardless of if your using WEP or WPA, but what you have to think is why would anyone go to that effort. I assume you are not a bank or similar.

(btw you can't really have a strong password with WEP, the most standard routers can deal with is 128bit encryption, which gives you a 26 hex character (1-9 and a-f) key, which isn't that large at all when talking about encryption keys)

[webbo3]

ok chuck thanks a lot, i think ill leave it, as it is as the other thing that concerns me is that it will take bloody ages to hook all the gadets we have back up again, (sons xbox, and laptop, my ps3 and wii) all this so he can play his DS online.
ive also came across quite a few unsecured access point in my cul-de-sac and area whilst hooking up the devices i mentioned so i think id rather be safe than sorry.

Dave.

[cherrychapstick]

thanks dizmouk,

(now hoping i don't stay near Alba lol)