Does Vista have software based WPA2 encryption?

[Autumnale]

I set my router to use WPA2 encryption, but I was able to connect to it using
Vista Home Premium with a wireless adapter PCI card that doesn't support WPA2
encryption.

So what's that all about? Does Vista have some sort of software based AES
solution built it or something? Does that mean I won't have to spend like 60
dollars on a wireless adapter card that supports WPA2 since Vista can use a
card that doesn't support WPA2 and do some sort of software level encryption?

 

[Barb Bowman]

what card do you have? please post the text output of

ipconfig /all

run from a cmd prompt

what router and what firmware?

I set my router to use WPA2 encryption, but I was able to connect to it using
Vista Home Premium with a wireless adapter PCI card that doesn't support WPA2
encryption.

So what's that all about? Does Vista have some sort of software based AES
solution built it or something? Does that mean I won't have to spend like 60
dollars on a wireless adapter card that supports WPA2 since Vista can use a
card that doesn't support WPA2 and do some sort of software level encryption?

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Autumnale]

Um the wireless adapter isn't in my computer anymore. But it's ABS NW-201-PCI
32bit PCI2.2 Wireless G Adapter - Retail.

The wireless router is the Buffalo Wireless-G High Speed Router with
firmware version 1.46.

The same thing happened with my Apple Express wireless router though. I was
able to connect to the wireless router using WPA2 even though my PCI wireless
adapter card didn't support WPA2.

I was wondering if that means that Vista has a software implementation of
WPA2 security.

 

[Barb Bowman]

While the vendor may not have supplied WPA2 capable drivers, it is
likely that the chipset they use is one where Vista has an inbox
wifi driver that does provide WPA/WPA2.

Um the wireless adapter isn't in my computer anymore. But it's ABS NW-201-PCI
32bit PCI2.2 Wireless G Adapter - Retail.

The wireless router is the Buffalo Wireless-G High Speed Router with
firmware version 1.46.

The same thing happened with my Apple Express wireless router though. I was
able to connect to the wireless router using WPA2 even though my PCI wireless
adapter card didn't support WPA2.

I was wondering if that means that Vista has a software implementation of
WPA2 security.

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Autumnale]

I doubt that's the case because the wireless card doesn't work "right out of
the box." I had to install an old XP driver that I found from the
manufacturer's website in order for Vista to recognize the wireless card.

That means that the WPA2 isn't coming from a driver level support. At least
I think that's what it means. I'm sure Vista must automatically does
something to compensate otherwise my wireless router wouldn't talk to the
wireless card at all. I can't imagine it's all that hard to emulate AES with
some sort of software implementation. I mean it's still just radio signals.
Vista can do the encryption on a software level so the wireless card won't
need a hardware encryption chip.

Anyway though. I'm still a little suspicious of my wireless card to trust
using it for now.

 

[Barb Bowman]

in some cases, the initial "in box" driver comes down from Windows
update. so you need a wired connection or a driver like you found to
bring down the Vista driver. you should look at the windows update
history to see if this is the case.

but the wireless radio hardware needs to support AES/WPA2 for the
software to work..

I doubt that's the case because the wireless card doesn't work "right out of
the box." I had to install an old XP driver that I found from the
manufacturer's website in order for Vista to recognize the wireless card.

That means that the WPA2 isn't coming from a driver level support. At least
I think that's what it means. I'm sure Vista must automatically does
something to compensate otherwise my wireless router wouldn't talk to the
wireless card at all. I can't imagine it's all that hard to emulate AES with
some sort of software implementation. I mean it's still just radio signals.
Vista can do the encryption on a software level so the wireless card won't
need a hardware encryption chip.

Anyway though. I'm still a little suspicious of my wireless card to trust
using it for now.

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Autumnale]

Yeah, that's what my friend told me. That I need some sort of hardware
support for AES... Is there a command with ipconfig to show the chipset that
my wireless card is using if I decide to plug it back in? Thanks.

 

[Barb Bowman]

either device manager or ipconfig /all might supply that
information.

Yeah, that's what my friend told me. That I need some sort of hardware
support for AES... Is there a command with ipconfig to show the chipset that
my wireless card is using if I decide to plug it back in? Thanks.

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Autumnale]

Thanks. I'll give it a go someday when I'm bored or something.