Linksys kit and VPNs
 

Hi folks,

I'm wondering if I can improve the security of my network at home. I've got a Linksys WAG54 by the phone point, with a wireless bridge connecting the hardwired segment of the network. It's WEP-encrypted but, as we all know, WEP isn't particularly secure. Can I use a VPN channel to secure communication between my two network segments?

Available kit...
1 * WAG54
1 * WET11
1 * BEFSX41
1 * WAP11
... plus loads of patch leads.

I'm hoping that someone here's used the VPN facilities of the WAG54 & BEFSX41, 'cos I'm a lazy bugger when it comes to reading instructions ;) . Are these boxes merely able to pass VPNs through them, or can they create the VPNs themselves?

cheers! :)

If youve got the original WAG54G model 1.0 either get your money back or throw in the bin. there is a new 1.2 model out, the original doesn't work very well if at all

WAG54g supports 5 vpn connections via the box not pass thru. It also supports WPA protected wireless.
WAP11 only supports WEP.
You can add MAC address matching for extra protection but I gather you want to support either a secure wireless or VPN over wireless. Best option is WPA, Linksys don't do VPN over wireless, Vigors do.

Hi ellisg! No, the WAG54 is brand spanking new, so I hope and assume it's the newest available.

Yeah, I noticed the WPA references but I gather that's only available to 802.11g kit (not 802.11b), right?

I'm already MAC-filtering, SSID-broadcast is 'off'. Linksys don't do VPN over wireless? That sounds a bit daft! I presume the Linksys VPNs are only actually to be used for remote access to remote locations.

I'd need to replace my 802.11b bridge with a 802.11g bridge to use WPA, I guess? My real objective isn't to set up a VPN, it's to secure the wireless link better than WEP/MAC/SSID can give me.

Just checked the box and it's a v1.2

Do you really need VPN over wireless? TBH WEP is fine for home users because it would take a hacker xxx amount of data to capture to break the encryption key. By that time you would of noticed someone dead outside your house cos they starved to death while waiting for data to pass through your home network. If you transfer Gig's of data (most home users do not) then consider WPA-PSK TKIP.

If you work for national security then your minimum requirement is WPA-AES-802.1x with VPN 3DES and sniffer dog for detecting explosives ;)

No, I don't *need* VPN over wireless. I'm just trying to improve the security of the wireless link over that which WEP/SSID/MAC can provide. I'm a homeworker, so some of my content is 'business'. A VPN was simply an idea of how to achieve that additional security. The data volume that would need to be 'sniffed' was alarmingly small! The only alternative I've seen so far is to purchase an 802.11g bridge (to replace my existing -b bridge) to enable use of WPA. I'm just trying to make smarter use of the kit I already have.

The only company I'm aware off who do IPSec VPN (DES,3DES, AES256 etc) over wireless are....SonicWALL which they're SonicPoints and the TZ170W which are a,b & g devices.