Wireless encryption protocol (WEP) is a standard method to encrypt traffic over a wireless network. While it has major weaknesses, it is useful in deterring casual hackers. Many wireless access point vendors ship their units with WEP disabled in order to make the product installation easier. This practice gives hackers immediate access to the traffic on a wireless network as soon as it goes into production since the data is directly readable with a wireless sniffer.

Encrypting your network makes it difficult for hackers to crack in and use your wireless connection, access your data, or perform other malicious actions. Encryption’s an effective hacker deterrent. The thought of trying to hack a 128-bit or 256-bit cipher is enough to send a hacker packing and looking for an easier target.

There are two types of encryption: WEP and WPA with AES encryption. The 128-bit WEP encryption can be cracked, but it can take up to four hours of work to do it. To date, 256-bit AES has never been cracked. Most wireless access points (APs) support both WEP and WPA standards, but not all client cards (the Wi-Fi card that plugs into your laptop) support AES encryption, which requires a dedicated chip.

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