With 802.11's optional WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), all access points and client radio NICs on a particular wireless LAN must use the same encryption key. Each sending station encrypts the body of each frame with a WEP key before transmission, and the receiving station decrypts it using an identical key upon reception. This process reduces the risk of someone passively monitoring the transmission and gaining access to the information that the frames are carrying.

You've probably heard the story by now that 802.11 wired equivalent privacy (WEP)  is broken and just about anyone can compromise wireless LAN (WLAN) resources. What you've heard is absolutely true, especially if you don't implement techniques that will counter the known weaknesses. With any WLAN, you need to consider policies that will protect resources from unauthorized people. Here's a look at what you should include.

If you don't implement security mechanisms beyond default settings of the access points and radio NICs, then just about anyone can compromise the information on the network. Through effective security techniques, however, you can beef up the security of a wireless LAN to a degree that satisfies specific requirements.

802.11's Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)  encryption uses symmetric, private keys, which means both the end user's radio-based network interface card (NIC) and access point must have the same key. This leads directly to significant difficulties involved with distributing new keys to each NIC periodically. As a result, keys remain unchanged on networks for months. With stagnate keys, tools such as Airsnort and WEPCrack can break through the relatively weak WEP encryption mechanisms in no time at all.