Wireless Network Security - Computers - Networks

Wireless networks are relatively less secure than wired network because of easier access of unauthorized persons in the coverage areas of access points.

There are in the implementation of wireless networks, various barriers that form the so-called basic security of wireless networks, which prevents unintended access of people in the coverage of an access point. For people with bad intentions, very well trained, like hackers, the security of these networks, and others, is questionable.

Security barriers have been provided in Wi-Fi networks protocols offering a relatively low level of security for these networks, fact that has stopped the development in a way. In June 2004, it was adopted the 802.11i standard that enhances wireless network security.

Basic security of wireless networks is ensured by the following features implemented:

SSID is a code that defines membership in a particular wireless access point. All wireless devices that communicate on a network must have their own SSID, set at the same value as the access point SSID in order to achieve connectivity. Usually they transmit their SSID access point every few seconds. It is relatively easy for a hacker equipped with monitoring equipment to discover the value and to link to the network. WEP can be used to improve the problem of ongoing of SSID transmission by encrypting traffic between wireless clients and access point. This authentication is done by a key. Network security can be enhanced, if the network administrator is using MAC address filtering, meaning the access point is configured with the MAC addresses of the clients who have allowed network access. But a hacker can record sequences of traffic and, after analysis, can extract a MAC address that can then be used to join the network.

access point vs router