User's Manual

ZyXEL AG-220 User’s Guide
36 Chapter 3 Wireless LAN Network
• Every device in the same wireless network must use security compatible with the AP or
peer computer.
Security stops unauthorized devices from using the wireless network. It can also protect
the information that is sent in the wireless network.
3.2 Wireless LAN Security
Wireless LAN security is vital to your network to protect wireless communications.
Configure the wireless LAN security using the Configuration or the Profile Security Setting
screen. If you do not enable any wireless security on your AG-220, the AG-220’s wireless
communications are accessible to any wireless networking device that is in the coverage area.
Note: You can only use WEP encryption if you set the AG-220 to Ad-hoc or AP mode.
See the appendices for more detailed information about wireless security.
3.2.1 Hide SSID
Normally, the AG-220 in AP mode acts like a beacon and regularly broadcasts the SSID in the
area. You can hide the SSID instead, in which case the AG-220 in AP mode does not
broadcast the SSID. In addition, you should change the default SSID to something that is
difficult to guess.
This type of security is fairly weak, however, because there are ways for unauthorized wireless
devices to get the SSID. In addition, unauthorized wireless devices can still see the
information that is sent in the wireless network.
3.2.2 MAC Address Filter
Every device that can use a wireless network has a unique identification number, called a
MAC address.
1
A MAC address is usually written using twelve hexadecimal characters
2
; for
example, 00A0C5000002 or 00:A0:C5:00:00:02.
To get the MAC address for each device in the wireless network, see the device’s User’s
Guide or other documentation. You can find the MAC address of the AG-220 by looking at the
sticker on the bottom of the device. Alternatively, use the utility in AP mode and look at the
Link Info screen. See Section 5.2 on page 62 for more details. You can also use the
Association List in the Link Info screen (in AP mode) to get the MAC addresses of other
wireless devices connected to the AG-220.
1. Some wireless devices, such as scanners, can detect wireless networks but cannot use wireless
networks. These kinds of wireless devices might not have MAC addresses.
2. Hexadecimal characters are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, and F.