From the network and sharing center, the first stop is the wireless network management screen. To get there Click Manage wireless networks from the left sidebar.
WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, a Wi-Fi wireless network security standard. A WEP key is a security passcode for Wi-Fi devices. WEP keys enable devices on a local network to exchange encrypted (mathematically encoded) messages with each other while hiding the contents of the messages from easy viewing by outsiders.
The Best Free Wireless Networking Software app downloads for Mac: MacTFTP Client NetSpot Easy WiFi BEETmobile Hotspot App USB Network Gate KisMAC APC. Wireless networks are accessible to anyone within the router’s transmission radius. This makes them vulnerable to attacks. Hotspots are available in public places such as airports, restaurants, parks, etc. Wi-Fi profiles for zero-touch end-user access to wireless networks VPN. We’re excited to announce that all these same Mac OS X management features will be available in the upcoming major update to Configuration Manager. Kieran Gupta, Program Manager Microsoft Intune Device Experiences Team Additional resources. On OS X you can manage your wireless networks; that is drag them to set preferred order, delete ones you don't want any more, etc. The only problem is that there is a tiny window which only shows ~4 networks at a time. Though managing wireless network settings may seem trivial to some, in densely packed office buildings with dozens of Wi-Fi networks broadcasting their signals, data security is a big concern.
How WEP Keys Work
Network administrators choose which WEP keys to use on a network. As part of the process of enabling WEP security, matching keys must be set on routers as well as each client device for them to communicate with each other over the Wi-Fi connection.
WEP keys are a sequence of hexadecimal values taken from the numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through F. Some examples of WEP keys are:
- 1A648C9FE2
- 99D767BAC38EA23B0C0176D152
The required length of a WEP key depends on which version of the WEP standard the network runs:
- 40- or 64-bit WEP: 10 digit key
- 104- or 128-bit WEP: 26 digit key
- 256-bit WEP: 58 digit key
To assist administrators in creating correct WEP keys, some brands of wireless network equipment automatically generate WEP keys from regular text (sometimes called a passphrase). Additionally, some public web sites offer automatic WEP key generators that generate random key values that are difficult for outsiders to guess.
Why WEP was Once Essential for Wireless Networks
As the name suggests, WEP technology was created to protect Wi-Fi networks up to the equivalent levels that Ethernet networks had been protected. The security of wireless connections was significantly less than that of wired Ethernet networks when Wi-Fi networking first became popular.
Network sniffer programs allowed anyone with a bit of technical know-how to drive through residential neighborhoods and tap into active Wi-Fi networks from the street. This became known as wardriving. Without WEP enabled, sniffers could capture and view passwords and other personal data unprotected households sent over their networks. Their internet connections could also be reached and used without permission.
WEP was at one time the only widely-supported standard for protecting home Wi-Fi networks against sniffer attacks.
Why WEP Keys are Obsolete Today
Vpn program for mac. Industry researchers discovered and made public major flaws in the design of WEP technology. With the right tools (such as programs built to exploit these technical flaws), a person could break into most WEP protected networks within a matter of minutes and perform the same kind of sniffing attacks as on an unprotected network.
Newer and more advanced wireless key systems including WPA and WPA2 were added to Wi-Fi routers and other equipment to replace WEP. Although many Wi-Fi devices still offer it as an option, WEP has long been considered obsolete and should be used on wireless networks only as a last resort.
Connect to Wi-Fi
You can use the Wi-Fi menu to quickly connect to a nearby wireless network.
- Click the Wi-Fi icon ( or ) in the menu bar.
- If Wi-Fi is off, choose 'Turn Wi-Fi on.'
- Select a nearby Wi-Fi network from the list.
If you don't see your network listed, make sure it's nearby and that others can connect to it. It could also be a 'hidden' network. You can connect to a hidden network by choosing 'Join other network' and entering the name of the network you're trying to use.
The strength of each nearby network is shown next to its name. More darkened bars indicate a stronger network connection.
Enter your password
Networks that have a lock icon next to their name require a password. After you select your network, enter the network password when you're prompted. If you don't know the network password, check with the owner of the Wi-Fi network you're trying to join.
Use a cellular device as your Wi-Fi connection
Depending on your cellular plan, your iPhone or iPad with cellular can share its Internet connection with your Mac. When your iOS device is configured properly and is near your Mac, it appears in the Wi-Fi menu as an available connection.
When you select a cellular device as your Internet connection, the menu icon changes to indicate your Mac is currently linked to the device ( ).
Turn Wi-Fi on or off
If you're in an environment where Wi-Fi isn't permitted (like on some airline flights) you can quickly turn off Wi-Fi from this menu.
- Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
- Choose 'Turn Wi-Fi off.'
When Wi-Fi is turned off, the menu icon changes to and empty indicator ( ). When you're ready to use Wi-Fi again, click the menu icon and choose 'Turn Wi-Fi on.' Then connect to the network you want to join if your Mac doesn't join it automatically.
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If you don't see the Wi-Fi menu
You can enable and disable the Wi-Fi menu from the Network pane of System Preferences. Free auto click program download.
- From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
- Click Network in the System Preferences window.
- Select Wi-Fi in the list of available network connections.
- Select (check) the option to 'Show Wi-Fi status in menu bar.'
Create a network
If you want to create a temporary Wi-Fi connection between your Mac and another device, you can create your own network from the Wi-Fi menu.
- Click the Wi-Fi menu and choose Create Network.
- Enter the details for your network, such as a network name and channel
When you create a computer-to-computer network, the menu icon changes to show a computer (). When you're done, click the Wi-Fi menu again and choose Disconnect to close the network you created.