A lot depends on where you live (proximity of neighbors & proximity of street.) there are other security measures besides WEP that you can setup on your wireless network. For example, are you broadcasting the SSID? Turn off broadcast for greater security. Create a unique SSID. Don't use the default one that your base station was already set to. By all means, set the administrator password to something unique. Again, don't use the default one that came with your base station. Can you set the Airport base station to restrict access via ethernet mac address? This is a good idea to do. Set it to allow your Dell and iMac only. Finally, WEP can be broken and from what I've been told it's fairly easy so if you are doing anything like on-line banking, ordering something by credit card, etc., don't use wireless at all. Switch to wired for these kinds of transactions.
-tom > ---------- > From: Thomas D. Kearns > Sent: Tuesday, May 4, 2004 11:32 PM > Subject: Re: Adding a Dell Laptop to an Airport Network > > I was able to get the Dell working on my Snow Airport network but it > required turning off encryption. My questions: how exposed am I with > encryption off? Should I return the Dell and get a different Windoze > laptop? I don't do my online banking using the Airport - I do it on > the iMac attached to the Airport by ethernet. I found this on the Dell > website: > > "Why can�t my Dell TrueMobile wireless card connect to an Apple� > AirPort wireless access point or wireless router? Some wireless > manufacturers add features that go above and beyond the scope of the > 802.11 specification. > > Some manufacturers add features to their devices to make them more > secure or faster than the 802.11 wireless specification. In some cases, > these specifications are not fully compatible with the 802.11 wireless > specification or are proprietary and may have to be modified and/or > disabled. When this occurs, you may be unable to establish a conection > using your Dell TrueMobile wireless network card and your access > point/wireless router. > > NOTE: > When configuring dual band wireless access points, obtain > separate names for each Service Set Identifier (SSID). If the SSID for > 802.11a and 802.11b are the same, the client wireless card will not > associate to an SSID. > > Disable Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) on the Apple� AirPort. > > Disable WEP encryption. > > NOTE: > WEP encryption will not work with the Dell TrueMobile wireless cards > and the Apple AirPorts. For more information about Apple AirPorts and > disabling WEP encryption, refer to http://www.apple.com/airport/."; > > > > > -- MacNetwork is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... XRouter Pro | Share your DSL or cable modem between multiple computers! Dr. Bott | Only $199 <http://www.drbott.com/prod/MIH130.html> Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> MacNetwork list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/macnet.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; end list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/macnetwork%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
