System and method for providing WLAN security through synchronized update and rotation of WEP keys
First Claim
1. A system for improved security for wireless local area networks, and comprised of:
- a wireless local area network conforming to the IEEE 802.11 family of specifications, the wireless local area network providing wireless communications links for the transmission of data between the two or more communicating entities;
one or more generators for creating pseudorandom WEP encryption keys for the communicating entities; and
one or more controllers for synchronously selecting a transmission encryption key index for each communicating entity on a rotating basis from one or more sets of active WEP keys, and updating the one or more sets of active WEP keys.
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed that overcome deficiencies of prior art IEEE 802.11 WEP key management schemes. Preferred embodiments of the present system and method update WEP keys and rotate transmission key indices in a synchronized manner and on a frequent basis making it impractical for a hacker to gather sufficient network traffic using any one WEP key to decrypt that key and without disrupting communications. Preferred embodiments of the present system and method do not require changes in access point or mobile unit hardware, radio drivers, or firmware and are therefore compatible with existing or legacy network infrastructure or components. The disclosed system and method may be used to facilitate secure communications between one or more access points and one or more mobile units and/or groups of two or more mobile units engaging in peer-to-peer associations.
103 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for improved security for wireless local area networks, and comprised of:
- a wireless local area network conforming to the IEEE 802.11 family of specifications, the wireless local area network providing wireless communications links for the transmission of data between the two or more communicating entities;
one or more generators for creating pseudorandom WEP encryption keys for the communicating entities; and
one or more controllers for synchronously selecting a transmission encryption key index for each communicating entity on a rotating basis from one or more sets of active WEP keys, and updating the one or more sets of active WEP keys. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- a wireless local area network conforming to the IEEE 802.11 family of specifications, the wireless local area network providing wireless communications links for the transmission of data between the two or more communicating entities;
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19. A method for providing improved security for wireless local area networks, comprising:
- creating pseudorandom WEP encryption keys for a plurality of communicating entities adapted to communicate via a wireless local area network conforming to the IEEE 802.11 family of specifications;
synchronously selecting a transmission encryption key index for each communicating entity on a rotating basis from one or more sets of active WEP keys; and
synchronously updating the one or more sets of active WEP keys.
- creating pseudorandom WEP encryption keys for a plurality of communicating entities adapted to communicate via a wireless local area network conforming to the IEEE 802.11 family of specifications;
Specification