Mac OS X Leopard - ARCAism

LEAP: Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP) was developed by Cisco for
Cisco wireless routers. This requires the user to first log in with a username and password
to receive a WEP key. Beyond the login, this operates similarly to WEP; as such, it is not
used much anymore.
None: It is of course possible to have no security on a WLAN. This is referred to as an
open network. Most public Wi-Fi access points are open networks (though some require
registration and perhaps fees to access the Internet). The most important thing to keep in
mind about using an open network is that there is no wireless encryption, so everything
you send over the network is potentially viewable by those around you. As such, it’s
important to use encrypted connections to services you are accessing whenever possible.
Joining a Wi-Fi Network
You can join a wireless network either from the Network preference panel (Figure 9-8) or from
the AirPort menu item (Figure 9-9).
Figure 9-8. Connecting to an AirPort in the Network preference panel
CHAPTER 9 CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET 169
The first thing you need to do is assure you have powered on the AirPort in your computer.
Once the network is on, you can click the Network Name drop-down list, which will list all the
advertising Wi-Fi networks in range of your computer. Select the network you want join from
the list, and then click Apply. If the selected network requires authentication or a password (key),
you will be prompted to enter that information. If your password or authentication information
is correct, then you will be immediately connected. If for whatever reason you want to adjust the
network settings, you can access them by clicking the Advanced button.
A much more convenient way to join a Wi-Fi network is by selecting the “Show AirPort status
in menu bar” option and using the menu item.