Airport Card Encryption

[lbrandt]

My workplace is finally installing a wireless net. They will be using 128 bit encryption. A number of portable PCs here will have to replace their 802.11 cards because they only support 40 bit encryption.

Anyone know the number of bits sukpported by the Airport card?

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

This document says if you're using AirPort software 1.3.1 or better, then you have the option of using either 40- or 128-bit encryption.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106424

The only limitation to this is the original, Graphite AirPort Base Station -- it can only use 40-bit encryption. All AirPort cards can do 128-bit.

 

[octane]

I've got my AirPort network encrypted, but it's worth pointing out that it's still a pretty weak encryption system because of the way that the passwords are sent and received.

I'm interested in configuring my iBook and G4 to only allow connections from the two MAC addresses of the cards. This adds a lot more strength to the security of the network.

Fryke doesn't even know how to do that, so there's no hope for the likes of us!

Anyone have any suggestions?..

 

[Alex x]

I've limited the MAC addresses that can access my wireless access point. Its a netgear one, simple to do just through the the web admin tool.

However you still need to have WEP enabled to scramble the data been sent between the computer and the access point.

Perhaps some older access points need to have their firmware updated to have MAC address limiting feature.

 

[octane]

I don't a have wireless router. I'm using a 4 port Ethernet router.

So my G4 acts as the gateway and my iBook links to it in ad hoc wireless mode; just two AirPort cards, no base station...