WEP is an encryption scheme based on the RC-4 cipher that is available on all 802.11a b and g wireless products. WEP uses a set of bits called a key to scramble information in the data frames as it leaves the access point or client adapter and the scrambled message is then decrypted by the receiver. Both sides must have the same WEP key which is usually a total of 64 or 128 bits long.

A semi-random 24 bit number called an Initialization Vector (IV) is part of the key so a 64 bit WEP key actually contains only 40 bits of strong encryption while a 128 bit key has 104. The IV is placed in encrypted frames header and is transmitted in plain text.

Traditionally cracking WEP keys has been a slow and boring process. An attacker would have to capture hundreds of thousands or millions of packets* a process that could take hours or even days depending on the volume of traffic passing over the wireless network. After enough packets were captured a WEP cracking program such as Aircrack would be used to find the WEP key.

Basic Directions:

1)Boot from CD

2)Get the WEP Key

3)Write it down

4)Reboot into Windows

5)Connect using WEP Key.