Sony VGN-FE680G - Manual (Page 58)

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Using Your VAIO Computer
Using Wireless LAN (WLAN)
Using the Sony Wireless LAN (WLAN), all your digital devices with built-in WLAN functionality communicate freely with each
other through a powerful network. A WLAN is a network in which a user can connect to a local area network (LAN) through
a wireless (radio) connection. So there is no need anymore to pull cables or wires through walls and ceilings.
The Sony WLAN supports all normal Ethernet activities, but with the added benefits of mobility and roaming. You can still
access information, internet/intranet and network resources, even in the middle of a meeting, or as you move from one place
to another.
You can communicate without an access point, which means that you can communicate between a limited number of
computers (ad-hoc). Or you can communicate through an access point, which allows you to create a full infrastructure
network (infrastructure).
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In some countries, using WLAN products may be restricted by the local regulations (e.g. limited number of channels). Therefore, before activating the
WLAN functionality, read the Safety Information carefully.
WLAN uses the IEEE 802.11a
*
/b/g standard, which specifies the used technology. The standard includes the encryption method: Wired Equivalent
Privacy (WEP), which is a security protocol and WiFi Protected Access (WPA - Proposed jointly by the IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance, WiFi Protected Access
is a specification of standards based, interoperable security enhancements that increase the level of data protection and access control for existing WiFi
networks. WPA has been designed to be forward compatible with the IEEE 802.11i specification. It utilizes the enhanced data encryption TKIP (Temporal
Key Integrity Protocol) in addition to user authentication using 802.1X and EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol)). Data encryption protects the
vulnerable wireless link between clients and access points. Besides that, there are other typical LAN security mechanisms to ensure privacy, such as:
password protection, end-to-end encryption, virtual private networks, and authentication.
* See the online Specifications to see whether your model supports the IEEE 802.11a standard.