Only WEP Encryption... bummer

I've done some research on the DS lite browser. I figured it would be pretty cool to be able to take such a small device around with me andbe able to get online at local hotspots. It would also begreat at home when someoneelse was already on the computer at home.

Now I only recently setup my home network, and I've got it locked down with all the standard things that are suggested. So my first guess was that a device that seems to be generally designed to easy wireless networking wouldn't support all the features needed for such a locked down system. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Nintendo saw fit to include everything necessaryfor dealing with static IP addresses and MAC address filtering. ButI became floored when I discovered that it only supports WEP security and not WPA security.

Now sinceall the short comings of WEP security have been posted on the Internet, I was disappointed to learn that Nintendo would release a software package that does NOT supportthetype of security all the "how to" sites suggest that you use for securing your home wireless network. Then after tinkering with the DS last night, I came to realize that it's not a shortcoming of the browser, but of the DS lite itself.

I guess for the most part, thispost is more of a whine than a question. The only question I've got is if anyone hasheard any rumors about Nintendo coming out with any patches to support WPA security... or is the DS liteeven setupso that it's OS can be flashed with new softwaredownloaded from Nintendo?

To be honest.. if someone is competent enough to crack WEP encryption they can crack your WPA also. It only takes a little longer to do.

But I do agree it should have WPA support, and it shouldn't be hard for them to implement it. I used to work for a wireless networking company and when WPA came out we had firmware/driver updates to allow our products to support it, so it has nothing to do with the DS' hardware not being able to support it.

To be honest.. if someone is competent enough to crack WEP encryption they can crack your WPA also. It only takes a little longer to do.

But I do agree it should have WPA support, and it shouldn't be hard for them to implement it. I used to work for a wireless networking company and when WPA came out we had firmware/driver updates to allow our products to support it, so it has nothing to do with the DS' hardware not being able to support it.

jasonb619

Here's what I understand about WEP encryption:

The procedure for cracking WEP encryption is publishedon the internet and not onlyavailable to hacker groups. There's even scientific papers written on WEP encryption and howto crack it.

However, the key to cracking WEP encryption is capturing enough packets. Basically, every packet is encrypted with the same "password".Thedocumented hack just needs enough packet to analyse to decode the "password".

Thetypical home network is still going to be safe from a "drive-by" hacker, because it will take too long for the hacker to aquire the required number of packets needed to decode the "password" before someone notices him hanging around the neiborhood. However, the kid that lives next door or accross the street has days/weeks/months to capture enough packets to follow the instructions for decode the password.

WPA encryption, on the other hand, uses a rotating "password". Someone capturing packets over days/weeks/months will have packets that have been encoded with various passwords, and so far, no one has publically published an easy way to analyse these packets to crack the WPA encryption.

So if you are using WPA encryption, about the only way it's going to get hacked is if youhappen to live near dedicated hacker. But if you are using WEP encryption, anyone that lives near you with the gumption and time to rearch the published hacks will eventually crack your encryption.

I did a little more research on WEP and found that today, there are even newer hacking techniques that will allow someone to crack WEP is seconds.

I've also learned that WPA encryption has a couple of different levels (i.e it keeps evolving and getting better). It is still possible to crack WPA (what a suprize) but it takes more sofistication than what is needed for WEP.

download "AirCrack-ng"

http://www.aircrack-ng.org/doku.php

WEP key breaker

Wow im actually quite alarmed by the ease WEP can be cracked (just read through a few articles).......and the gits that live round near my house would probably try cracking a few networks if they had the chance.

Cant say im particularly bothered about not going online with my DS since im REALLY bored of the games online once theyve been swamped by people constantly using the various bugs/traps in the games to win. (such as snaking and alt-spamming etc..)

I SHALL be switching to WPA asap!