New Router - Wireless Security Recommendations?

[Sasqui]

Brand new ASUS RT-66U at home. Specs are here: http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN66U/#specifications

Looking for recommendations for what data encryption to use. This is a dual band router, and encryption can be different on each band 2.4G~2.4835GHz /5.1~5.8GHz

Available encryption: 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise, WPS support

I also found this in the manual:

IMPORTANT! The IEEE 802.11n standard prohibits using High Throughput with WEP or WPA-TKIP as the unicast cipher. If you use these encryption methods, your data rate will drop to IEEE 802.11g 54Mbps connection.

I have IEEE 802.11n devices that will be connecting, so I certainly don't want to cap the data rate.

I'd like a human readable password, not some series of HEX characters... Can't claim to be a genius when it comes to wireless networking and would like to keep it simple.

Suggestions?

[brandonwh64]

I use WPA2 personal and you can assign a key 10 digits or more.

[newtekie1]

Wpa2-psk

[Sasqui]

What is WPA-TKIP? (from the exception listed above)

Originally Posted by brandonwh64

I use WPA personal and you can assign a key 10 digits or more.

Which one is that from the list?

Originally Posted by newtekie1

Wpa2-psk

What are the advantages?



Damn, three questions in a row.

Edit, found this:

Actually starting this discussion in doubt as i could have posted in the week 2 discussion but since it's not week 2 anymore...


I use the Cisco press as my guide to prep for the exam however the more often i read the book the more questions arise. Like this one:


Comparing WPA to WPA2, you can see that;


- WPA mandates TKIP, and AES is optional

- WPA2 mandates AES and doesn't allow TKIP

- WPA allows AES in its general form

- WPA2 only allows the AES/CCMP variant

- With WPA2, key management allows keys to be cached to allow for faster connections.


Why is it possible to configure WPA2 with AES TKIP on the WLC? Is it considered WPA instead of WPA2 with the use of TKIP? Why does Cisco press explicitly state that WPA2 only allows the AES/CCMP encryption???

[Jetster]

WPA2-PSK

Best with the least hassle. your over thinking it just pick it and go

[cdawall]

WPA2-PSK is a humanly readable password just use it and move on.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by Jetster

WPA2-PSK

Best with the least hassle. your over thinking it just pick it and go

Underthinking is overrated. I know little to none about Wifi encryption, hence the questions.

[Widjaja]

WPA2-PSK is what I use.

[brandonwh64]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Which one is that from the list?

As others said WPA2-PSK

[Sasqui]

The interesting thing about dual band, it's like having two routers!

You can set up different wireless security settings for 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

I guess I'll find out later, but if I chose the same settings and password for each band, the client will decide the best connection?

[Slizzo]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

The interesting thing about dual band, it's like having two routers!



I guess I'll find out later, but if I chose the same settings and password for each band, the client will decide the best connection?

Gets a little confusing if you name them the same. I name the normal 2.4GHz band as "something" then the 5GHz band as "something-5G" so I can differentiate the two on my devices. You can have the same passkey for both though.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by Slizzo

Gets a little confusing if you name them the same. I name the normal 2.4GHz band as "something" then the 5GHz band as "something-5G" so I can differentiate the two on my devices. You can have the same passkey for both though.

Ah yes, the examples in the manual do that too. Seeing that both bands accomodate b/g/n, I guess it'd be up to me to decide what band to connect to... if both are already setup, the client would chose the strongest signal at the time of connection I suppose.

If you couldn't tell, I've never had a dual band router before, lol.

I've read that 2.4 Ghz will pass through walls better than 5Ghz, where 5Ghz will give better performance when the signals are about equal, partly because there's typically more noise in the 2.4Ghz spectrum.

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

What are the advantages?

It is the most secure.

[Jetster]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

The interesting thing about dual band, it's like having two routers!



I guess I'll find out later, but if I chose the same settings and password for each band, the client will decide the best connection?

Exactly. Its like having 4 routers if you turn on guest network

Correction: 6 networks

"The RT-N66U supports up to three wireless networks over the 2.4 GHz band and three over the 5 GHz band, so it can protect computers from any unauthorized access, hacking and virus attacks. The parental control allows you to set up your kids' computer access times. "