WEP Keys

e24ohm

Hey,
I understand that WEP keys are in HEX, and to learn i go through the steps to create the WEP key in HEX by pen and paper, but why when i type my phrase and generate the WEP key I get different output. I am not worried just want to know how the products get a different WEP generated then what I do.

thank you
E

dave0212

Hi

WEP keys on routers are generally 64 or 128 bit

They use only the following characters 0-9 and A-F

i.e 333d5b583f205f6f5a4c613168

WEP should be the same no matter where you enter it due to the limitations above

e24ohm

dave0212 wrote:

Hi

WEP keys on routers are generally 64 or 128 bit

They use only the following characters 0-9 and A-F

i.e 333d5b583f205f6f5a4c613168

WEP should be the same no matter where you enter it due to the limitations above

oh, but for example: my pass phrase is

<> let me in <>

i get

8DEEB02401BBE30372362EB214

but when i calculate it out by pen and paper i get

6c6574206d6520696e

I have the WEP set to 128bit, but i do not uderstand.

thank you

dave0212

What are you using to generate the keys?

e24ohm

dave0212 wrote:

What are you using to generate the keys?

I am using the standard utility that is on the Linksys Wireless AP, and when i generate the different keys they are all different, so i am little lost. Thank you for you help.

thank you

dave0212

<> let me in <>

i get

8DEEB02401BBE30372362EB214

but when i calculate it out by pen and paper i get

6c6574206d6520696e

I have the WEP set to 128bit, but i do not uderstand.

thank you

The 8DEEB02401BBE30372362EB214 is 128 bit, your phrase is not.

I haven't used the router so don't know but it seems to be generating a random key if you select it again does it generate a different key on the same phrase. If it is using your phrase in some way you wont get the same result as it needs to generate a 128bit key and completing the conversion manually doesn't yield a 128bit key.[/quote]

dynamik

I would imagine that there's various algorithms that will do this. I don't think there's only one way. What source are you using for this? I don't remember coming across anything like this in my studies.

e24ohm

dave0212 wrote:

<> let me in <>

i get

8DEEB02401BBE30372362EB214

but when i calculate it out by pen and paper i get

6c6574206d6520696e

I have the WEP set to 128bit, but i do not uderstand.

thank you

The 8DEEB02401BBE30372362EB214 is 128 bit, your phrase is not.

I haven't used the router so don't know but it seems to be generating a random key if you select it again does it generate a different key on the same phrase. If it is using your phrase in some way you wont get the same result as it needs to generate a 128bit key and completing the conversion manually doesn't yield a 128bit key.

[/quote] Understand. No it generates the same key, I guess it takes the pass phrase and scrambles it in a way.

thank you for you help.

cheers.

e24ohm

dynamik wrote:

I would imagine that there's various algorithms that will do this. I don't think there's only one way. What source are you using for this? I don't remember coming across anything like this in my studies.

I am a slow learner, so i was using this a learning experience, teaching myself HEX, Bin, and converting between the two, but was confused by what i was seeing, when i was setting up my WAP. You are right, must have an algorithm that scrambles the phrase, and generates a WEP key which is based on the phrase, but scrambled by the algorithm.

thank you,