Asus WL-100gDeluxe - Manual (Page 30)

30 ASUS WLAN Card
Chapter 3 - Reference
Chapter 3
Windows Settings
Config - Encryption
Lets you configure the Wireless LAN Card encryption settings. For data
confidentiality in a wireless environment, IEEE 802.11 specifies a Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) algorithm to offer transmission privacy similar to
wired network. The WEP uses keys to encrypt transmit data packets and decrypt
received data packets. The encryption process can scramble frame bits to avoid
disclosure to others. The WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) is an improved security
system for 802.11 that encryption data sent over radio waves. The WPA was
developed to overcome the weakness of the WEP protocol.
Network Authentication
Because there is no precise bound in wireless LANs, it needs to be implemented
in another mechanism to provide higher level of security. That is where
Authentication services come in. If a mutual authentication relationship has
not been established between stations and Access Point, an association cannot
be established.
Open - Select this option allows the network to operate on an Open System
mode. A null authentication algorithm. A station can authenticate with any
other station or Access Point and without checking any WEP Key, even if one
exists.
Shared - Select this option allows the network to operate on an Shared Key
mode. In a Share Key Authentication system, four-step exchange of frames is
required to validate that the station is using the same WEP Key as the Access
Point.