Busting (or Trusting) Wi-Fi Security Myths

"When you're reading up on Wi-Fi security, you'll find many different interpretations and opinions. One might say disabling SSID broadcasting will hide your network, while others might say it just draws hackers into an easy job. Some might think WPA encryption is cracked, while others say it's secure. Here we look at each myth and tell you whether it's verified--or busted.

"Myth: WEP encryption can be cracked in minutes.
Verdict: Trusted. WEP encryption can be cracked in minutes.

"After nearly a decade now, it's no secret. The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption standard, developed by the IEEE, can be cracked. In some cases, it can even be cracked in minutes. So, count this myth as True.

"Attacks on WEP result in the hacker recovering the encryption key. Then he or she can freely connect to the network, access network shares and resources, and decode all packets. Needless to say, WEP doesn't secure your network from hackers. It only protects you from the average Wi-Fi user."

Complete Story

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