Configuring Wireless Network Security
You configure security on a wireless network by managing the properties for that wireless network connection. The pros, cons, and details of these various security methods are beyond the scope of this book; what is important is that you know how to configure Windows Vista to match the corresponding settings in use on your network. Managing wireless connection is done via the Manage Wireless Networks applet, which is available, like all other network applets in Windows Vista, via the Network and Sharing Center. To open the Manage Wireless Networks applet, first launch the Network and Sharing Center and then select Manage Wireless Networks from the task list on the left side of the screen.
Right-clicking on an available wireless network connection and selecting Properties opens the Wireless Network properties dialog box. To configure wireless security, select the Security tab. Depending on the type of security and encryption in use, you will see different options on this tab.
Wired Equivalent Privacy
WEP is part of the 802.11 standard and is a means of securing a wireless network. The purpose of WEP is to make the communication between the computer’s NIC and the access point more secure than that of a standard radio broadcast. If the access point you are connecting to is using WEP, you need to configure Windows Vista for WEP and provide the correct security key and key index. To do so, open the Manage Wireless Networks applet from the Network and Sharing Center, right-click the network you want to set up, select Properties, and then select the Security tab. To configure WEP, set Security Type to Shared and select WEP as the Encryption Type. Doing so displays the WEP options.
