From: "Glenn Meadows" 

I just read somewhere that TKIP was essentially WEP in a different name,
NOT WPA.  For WPA, you need to be running AES encryptions. TKIP was for
compatibility.

(But all of that is way above my pay grade, so I could be obliviously incorrect).

(Turns out I AM Incorrect, but below is a paste of the relevant article, I
stand corrected).

Ah, I think I found the info, it was from a Kim Komando newsletter, content
pasted below:

Wireless encryption confusion
In your article from 2006 on wireless security, you recommend using WPA2,
which you say is also called WPA-PSK. My laptop lists options for WPA,
WPA-PSK, WPA2, and WPA2-PSK.  Meanwhile, my router doesn't list WPA2 at
all, but does have WPA-PSK. I've set both the laptop and router to WPA-PSK,
but am wondering if I should use WPA2-PSK (which would require a new
router). Are WPA2 and WPA-PSK equivalent, or do I need to upgrade to get
WPA2?

Awhile back, I wrote steps to encrypt a home wireless network. But the
steps aren't as specific as I normally like. Router makers often use
confusingly different terminology and interfaces.

Before continuing, I must apologize to everyone still clinging to their
sanity. Like the question above, this Tip will be full of acronyms. So put
on your thinking cap and read slowly.

The question was: Are WPA2 and WPA-PSK equivalent? And the answer is: maybe!

Stop laughing. This is going to get worse.

First, let me explain these acronyms. They all refer to encryption. You use
them to keep others off your wireless network. Without encryption,
neighbors could easily pick up your signal. They could ride your network to
the Internet. They might even be able to get into your computers.

The original encryption standard was WEP-Wired Equivalent Privacy. WEP is
easily broken. So you should never use it. If your router uses WEP, it
probably can be upgraded to WPA. If not, get new equipment. WEP is
dangerous.

The wireless industry realized several years ago that it had to act. It
developed WPA-Wi-Fi Protected Access. This was an interim standard. It
actually uses the same encryption as WEP. But it changes the key
frequently. WPA is safe, so long as you use a long password. It should be
22 characters or more.

The final standard was WPA2. This standard uses AES (Advanced Encryption
Standard). AES is unbreakable. So WPA2 is the preferred method of
protection. If WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access, second generation) is listed
in a router's options, it should be used.

To answer your question, the WPA-PSK option depends on the router. (PSK
means pre-shared key.) Older routers may use WPA-PSK for both WPA and WPA2.
If so, they should allow you to further specify either TKIP (Temporal Key
Integrity Protocol) or AES. AES is the type of encryption that indicates
WPA2. TKIP is always used by WPA.

The most common variations of WPA or WPA2 include PSK, AES, TKIP, Personal
and Enterprise.

PSK is interchangeable with Personal. Both require you to manually enter
your network's key or passphrase on each of your computers. In other words,
the key is shared before you connect.

Businesses don't spend time manually setting keys on all their machines.
Instead, they typically use a server to manage secure connections. This
type of setup is WPA or WPA2 (no PSK). Some routers add the word Enterprise
for clarity.

Now, TKIP is part of WPA, but it is not a type of encryption. You might
recall, if you're still awake, that WPA uses the same encryption as WEP.
However, TKIP frequently changes the key of the encrypted signal. The
result is a moving target that is harder to crack.

Because WPA uses the same encryption as WEP, it can be used on old
hardware. Equipment originally designed for WEP can be upgraded for WPA.
The upgrade is often just a download from the manufacturer.

WPA2 and its AES encryption, however, require modern hardware. It's
important to look for WPA2 certification before you buy a router. You can
find more information in my wireless router buying guide.

You can also check the Wi-Fi Alliance site for a thorough list of tested
and certified products. Each listing specifies WPA or WPA2 certification.

--

Glenn M.
"Rich Gauszka"  wrote in
message news:464ba934$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>I switched my router to TKIP only ( WPA ) trying to resolve my atheros
> chip panic problem on the Macbook several days ago ( mentioned as a
> possible unofficial fix ) . I haven't had a panic yet but I also stopped
> iTunes from doing an auto update on podcasts which may have contributed
> to the panic
>
>
> mike wrote:
>> WPA or WPA/2?
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 16 May 2007 19:47:13 -0400, "Rich Gauszka"
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> PClinuxOS was the first live cd  that I was able to configure my
>>> Toshiba's
>>> wireless ( WPA ) on boot. For some reason the Unbuntu 7.04 livecd would
>>> just
>>> let me configure for WEP. Not good when you're doing WPA
>>>
>>> http://www.pclinuxos.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
>>>
>>>
>>> good review of Linux  live cds at
>>>
>>> http://www.osnews.com/story.php/9569/Linux-LiveCD-Roundup
>>>


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