ZyXEL Communications 802.11a/g Wireless CardBus Card ZyXEL AG-120 - Manual (Page 38)

ZyXEL AG-120 User’s Guide
38 Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Network
• Every device in the same wireless network must use security compatible with the AP or
peer computer.
Security stops unauthorized devices from using the wireless network. It can also protect
the information that is sent in the wireless network.
3.2 Wireless LAN Security
Wireless LAN security is vital to your network to protect wireless communications.
Configure the wireless LAN security using the Configuration or the Profile Security Setting
screen. If you do not enable any wireless security on your AG-120, the AG-120’s wireless
communications are accessible to any wireless networking device that is in the coverage area.
Note: You can only use WEP encryption if you set the AG-120 to Ad-hoc mode.
See the appendices for more detailed information about wireless security.
3.2.1 Hide SSID
Normally, the AG-120 in AP mode acts like a beacon and regularly broadcasts the SSID in the
area. You can hide the SSID instead, in which case the AG-120 in AP mode does not
broadcast the SSID. In addition, you should change the default SSID to something that is
difficult to guess.
This type of security is fairly weak, however, because there are ways for unauthorized wireless
devices to get the SSID. In addition, unauthorized wireless devices can still see the
information that is sent in the wireless network.
3.2.2 MAC Address Filter
Every device that can use a wireless network has a unique identification number, called a
MAC address.
1 A MAC address is usually written using twelve hexadecimal characters 2 ; for
example, 00A0C5000002 or 00:A0:C5:00:00:02. To get the MAC address for each device in
the wireless network, see the device’s User’s Guide or other documentation.
You can use the MAC address filter to tell the AG-120 in AP mode which devices are allowed
or not allowed to use the wireless network. If a device is allowed to use the wireless network,
it still has to have the correct information (SSID, channel, and security). If a device is not
allowed to use the wireless network, it does not matter if it has the correct information.
1. Some wireless devices, such as scanners, can detect wireless networks but cannot use wireless
networks. These kinds of wireless devices might not have MAC addresses.
2. Hexadecimal characters are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F.