WPA support in Windows XP

[LNB]

Description and download details >>>here<<<

[CompactDestruction]

This information is outdated. WPA support is included in Service Pack 2 by default.

However, for WPA2 support (which the Sky router does NOT support by the way) get this update.

[psychocandy]

Originally Posted by CompactDestruction

This information is outdated. WPA support is included in Service Pack 2 by default.

However, for WPA2 support (which the Sky router does NOT support by the way) get this update.

Whats the difference between WPA and WPA2 and why do you need it?

I always thought that whereas WEP is crackable, WPA is pretty much secure....

[CompactDestruction]

WPA is pretty much secure, but WPA2 is even more secure. It's always best to choose the most secure option if all your devices support it.

[dingdong]

WPA uses TKIP and WPA2 uses AES, they are just different levels of encryption. AES is higher rated, but in real terms they are both pretty secure. Note that the Netgear box does not support AES encryption so you are stuck with the lower offering.

[armitasp]

Originally Posted by CompactDestruction

This information is outdated. WPA support is included in Service Pack 2 by default.

However, for WPA2 support (which the Sky router does NOT support by the way) get this update.

This patch has been replaced with Description of the Wireless Client Update for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 which has some further bug fixes and improvements. If you have windows XP I would recommend installing it not just for the WPA2.

[psychocandy]

Originally Posted by dingdong

WPA uses TKIP and WPA2 uses AES, they are just different levels of encryption. AES is higher rated, but in real terms they are both pretty secure. Note that the Netgear box does not support AES encryption so you are stuck with the lower offering.

Ah. So not much point in using WPA2 then ???

[aviator]

So for clarity if someone has XP SP2 and WPA does not work will the patch fix access probs.

It seems to be only older XPs updated with SP2 that have this problem. Later units already fitted with SP2 work just fine.

TIA

Richard

[armitasp]

Microsoft recommends the patch for anyone using XP. It fixes quite a few bugs in XPs wireless networking (and also happens to give support fr WPA2).

WPA2 is what WPA should have been. Whilst for home use WPA (Personal) is unlikely to broken (if you have a strong key) thats no reason to get complacent. If you are buying new equipment I'd make sure it supports 802.11i WPA2 (not difficult as most stuff does).

If you are having problems first thing I would do is get the latest drivers from manufacturers, you'd be surprised how often this fixes WPA problems.

As a side note there is no known way to break AES encryption other than brute force (I know someone will throw side-channel attacks back at me, but to do that you would need to be on the machine doing the encryption).