Travel Technology - Will router firmware update add WPA?

In a nutshell... going to a site that has a Belkin (802.11b) router that is currently only WEP capable.

Anyone know if a firmware upgrade will add WPA support? or should I bring along a newer router?

thanks!

-R

I think it depends on the model number, but I know some of them the firmware upgrade will support it once it's done. You may want to do a bit of googling or searching their website first, some early routers can not support both WEP and WPA at the same time, so if you run WPA you may lose the connectivity to the WEP clients.

It may be way less hassle just taking another one with you that does everything right out of the box, if you are billing them for your time it would probably cost less too.

But a quick check of the Belkin website for the model of the router will let you know if you can flash it for WPA.

I have an older Belkin with only WEP and am now using a newer Belkin with WPA. I seriously doubt if there is any difference in the probability of someone hacking into my signal.

MisterNice

Yes, probably better just to bring, both in terms of simplicity and final cost.

I did look at the website, but went back at your suggestion. At first, I thought it was just very limited information about a firmware update, but I think that it's actually that there is no firmware update available and, so, no WPA support.

Also, I don't know who, if anyone, will come knocking at this location, so can never know if the WPA is really necessary, but for the time it takes to download the firmware, or the tiny cost of a router, I don't see how I can *not* provide the extra security that is so widely available.

Thanks!



It may be way less hassle just taking another one with you that does everything right out of the box, if you are billing them for your time it would probably cost less too.

But a quick check of the Belkin website for the model of the router will let you know if you can flash it for WPA.

I have an older Belkin with only WEP and am now using a newer Belkin with WPA. I seriously doubt if there is any difference in the probability of someone hacking into my signal.

MisterNice

In less than 10 minutes, I can get into your WEP protected network. That period of time becomes "maybe never" with a decently passphrased WPA/WPA2 network.

In less than 10 minutes, I can get into your WEP protected network. That period of time becomes "maybe never" with a decently passphrased WPA/WPA2 network.

I viewed something like this WEP hack for a mac (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1021256519470427962&q=kismac) a couple of months ago. FWIW I actually picked the exterior doors locks of both of my HA and PA homes with 2 large style paper clips in less than 10 mins.

MisterNice

In less than 10 minutes, I can get into your WEP protected network. That period of time becomes "maybe never" with a decently passphrased WPA/WPA2 network.

OP is right, WEP useless, WAP is good. In the meantime, several things that will be useful:

1. Turn on your firewall protection.
2. Don't broadcast your signal
3. Limit to SSID of your computers

The above will mask your signal but won't prevent expert hacker....

I have an older Belkin with only WEP and am now using a newer Belkin with WPA. I seriously doubt if there is any difference in the probability of someone hacking into my signal.

MisterNice

You comfortable with "maybe" ?
I'm not.... and there is a big difference b/t someone breaking into your home and having the ability to get your bank account password from 3 blocks away while sitting in their car.