Netgear FWG114P v2 User Manual

E-16

Wireless Networking Basics

WPA is not without its vulnerabilities. Specifically, it is susceptible to denial of service (DoS) 
attacks. If the access point receives two data packets that fail the message integrity code (MIC) 
within 60 seconds of each other, then the network is under an active attack, and as a result, the 
access point employs counter measures, which include disassociating each station using the access 
point. This prevents an attacker from gleaning information about the encryption key and alerts 
administrators, but it also causes users to lose network connectivity for 60 seconds. More than 
anything else, this may just prove that no single security tactic is completely invulnerable. WPA is 
a definite step forward in WLAN security over WEP and has to be thought of as a single part of an 
end-to-end network security strategy.

Starting in August, 2003, NETGEAR, Inc. wireless Wi-Fi certified products will support the WPA 
standard. NETGEAR, Inc. wireless products that had their Wi-Fi certification approved before 
August, 2003 will have one year to add WPA so as to maintain their Wi-Fi certification.

WPA requires software changes to the following: 

•

Wireless access points 

•

Wireless network adapters 

•

Wireless client programs

To support the gradual transition of WEP-based wireless networks to WPA, a wireless AP can 
support both WEP and WPA clients at the same time. During the association, the wireless AP 
determines which clients use WEP and which clients use WPA. The disadvantage to supporting a 
mixture of WEP and WPA clients is that the global encryption key is not dynamic. This is because 
WEP-based clients cannot support it. All other benefits to the WPA clients, such as integrity, are 
maintained.

However, a mixed mode supporting WPA and non-WPA clients would offer network security that 
is no better than that obtained with a non-WPA network, and thus this mode of operation is 
discouraged.