Securing wireless

mrmistoffelees · 25-07-2007, 22:32

Having read the guides I've noticed that using wireless security WPA or WEP seems to cause some slowdown on the connection. Im wondering if using MAC filtering would be a more effective way ? in conjunction with hiding the SSID ??

prince_zeepress · 25-07-2007, 23:34

MAC filtering would certainly prevent unauthorised connections. However the connection would still be unencrypted so traffic could be potentially intercepted.

mrmistoffelees · 25-07-2007, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by prince_zeepress

MAC filtering would certainly prevent unauthorised connections. However the connection would still be unencrypted so traffic could be potentially intercepted.

That was my thinking, that with hiding the SSID and MAC filtering would negate the requirement for WEP/WPA encryption and therefore potentially help to increase the wireless throughput

danielf · 25-07-2007, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

That was my thinking, that with hiding the SSID and MAC filtering would negate the requirement for WEP/WPA encryption and therefore potentially help to increase the wireless throughput

How much throughput do you want (and what do you want if for)? Wireless (@ 54 Mb/s ideally) is still considerable faster than your internet connection, so disabling WEP/WPA won't speed up your browsing/downloads. If you're interested in moving large files over your network swiftly you would gain much more by ditching wireless altogether and going with old-fashioned Cat-5.

mrmistoffelees · 26-07-2007, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

How much throughput do you want (and what do you want if for)? Wireless (@ 54 Mb/s ideally) is still considerable faster than your internet connection, so disabling WEP/WPA won't speed up your browsing/downloads. If you're interested in moving large files over your network swiftly you would gain much more by ditching wireless altogether and going with old-fashioned Cat-5.

Due to the added data parsed with encryption if your network connection is 20mb EVEN if you have 54mbps wireless you WILL lose capacity anywhere between 1-3mbps

Cisco have a paper on it somewhere, I'll dig it up, i was reading up on it for some stuff at work

danielf · 26-07-2007, 00:18

Ah, I wasn't aware of that. Personally,I wouldn't compromise my security for a few mbs (relative to 20) though. But I'm on a 4 meg connection (and a very light downloader), so there's not that much flowing through my network anyway.

mrmistoffelees · 26-07-2007, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Ah, I wasn't aware of that. Personally,I wouldn't compromise my security for a few mbs (relative to 20) though. But I'm on a 4 meg connection (and a very light downloader), so there's not that much flowing through my network anyway.

I think its me being a perfectionist

if im paying for 20mb i want as much of it as i can get

danielf · 26-07-2007, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

I think its me being a perfectionist

if im paying for 20mb i want as much of it as i can get

In that case, do remember to turn security back on once traffic shaping kicks in