Can I leave my router unsecured, but use MAC filtering? & more wireless router questions plz answer?

Question

Our router only supports WEP, and I heard that it is bad security, so should I just leave it unsecured and use MAC filtering? We aren't going to replace the wireless router, so thats not an option. Its a comcast netgear router. Any suggestions?

Is it easier for someone to moniter our network traffic if WEP is disabled, or is it just the same with WEP enabled? should i be worried about anything?

Will my internet go faster with WEP disabled by the way....Sorry for all the questions!

Answer 1

MAC filtering isn't all that useful, as anyone who is wardriving may likely know how to spoof their mac address as well. It may help to keep the odd person from using your connection though.

Without WEP anyone wardriving or nearby can sniff your traffic and see anything you are doing that is sent in plain text, like surfing the web. If anything, for just that reason, enable wep. And you aren't going to see much speed difference between wep being enabled or disabled, so just enable it.

Answer 2

MAC filtering is child's play to bypass if you know what you're doing. And once someone bypasses it, they can lock YOU out of your wireless!

WEP does have issues, but it's still FAR superior to MAC filtering.

If WEP is enabled your network traffic cannot be monitored unless someone cracks WEP. WEP can be cracked but it's not easy to do, especially for the neophyte. However, monitoring your traffic if you're just using MAC filtering is extremely easy.

Any encryption takes processing power. Enabling WEP will cause a loss in the absolute throughput of most SOHO wireless routers and access points but if you are using a normal broadband connection and only have a few machines you won't notice any loss of performance unless you're running a very old computer.

If you want to keep your system reasonably secure, use WEP with 128 bit encryption and change your passkey once a month or more often.

If you want uncrackable encryption, check your router manufacturer's website for a firmware update that implements WPA. You'll need WPA2 or WPA-PSK for a home network -- basic WPA needs extra hardware to work and isn't appropriate for home use. WPA has yet to be cracked and it will probably be many years before home computers will have the horsepower to crack it.

Answer 3

WEP is better than nothing; it'll keep out most people. Unless you have enemies or sensitive info that someone really wants, enabling WEP will keep your neighbors out and cause the war driver to just keep driving.

MAC filtering can be easily spoofed, but yes, it'll add just another layer of protection albiet a thin one. Again, it'll stop most people but if you change equipment frequently or have frequent visitors, it's a pain to maintain. Probably not a concern for you though.

Answer 4

Why not just do both of them? They won't conflict with each other, and you'll be secure.

No, your internet speed will not be affected.