Encryption Protects Online Transactions from Hackers

The Internet was born out of the widespread desire to connect with others and share information. It wasn't too long ago that the only way to do so was by physical connection. By virtue of cables and telephone lines, users had to wire their computer to a given network. Today the opposite is true: the network comes to the user, and a computer is not the only device through which a user can connect to a network. A number of devices have networking capabilities; laptops, gaming consoles, handheld electronic devices, and mobile phones have all been integrated with the ability to access the Internet.

Wireless has become a desirable, if not essential, component of the computer networking, telecommunications, entertainment, and commerce industries; perhaps dominating the landscape in some of them. Although wireless technology has penetrated almost every facet of personal and commercial life, in many ways we barely notice it. And, therefore, we barely notice how wireless devices are as equally vulnerable to online security threats as our personal computers and corporate networks.

Wireless Encryption Technology

The original standard for the encryption of wireless communication, called Wireless Equivalency Privacy (WEP), was intended to give wireless networks the same level of security as that of traditional, wired networks. This was never the reality, however, as networks with WEP encryption were fundamentally weak and quickly targeted by hackers and other cybercriminals. The algorithm guiding WEP encryption was inherently vulnerable, designed to broadcast communication by radio, and therefore highly susceptible to eavesdropping. WEP also operates on the basis of either open-system or shared-key authentication security. Both are essentially weak encryption methods with standards set at only 40-bit, later 128-bit, levels, permitting non-credentialed self-authentication (open system) or risking the capture of key-streams during user authentication handshake procedures. Unfortunately, WEP is still widely employed, due in large part to the number of wireless router configuration tools that offer this defunct file encryption method as a first choice.

Entrust Offers Security Solutions for the Wireless Network's Encryption Needs

Since the inappropriate use of wireless technology and mobile devices can expose your network to intrusion attacks, it is critical that the appropriate protection of wireless technology be maintained with a suitable level of security certificate and encryption software strategies. Backed by their reputable PKI security practices, Entrust Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) certificates provide the two factor authentication necessary for the enabling access and encryption of information communicated between wireless networks, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) servers, and micro-browsers found in mobile devices. In addition, since an organization's wireless network access points are essential in allowing corporate personnel the ability to utilize network resources at any time from any location, Entrust IdentityGuard and Entrust Authority Enrollment Server for VPN are a few of the products Entrust offers to enhance the security of VPN, wireless and remote access points. With a full range of authentication and encryption solutions to meet the demand and diversity of wireless networking, Entrust wireless security solutions are your network's security solutions.