(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Wireless Security

            Wireless networking has been an issue of security since its creation. With early technology it was simple to steal someone's data or connect into their LAN. Some advances were made, such as encryption and the need for MAC (media access control) addresses on the access point, but it was still relatively simple to bypass these security methods. New solutions in wireless networking security such as CCE, WPA, and AES are helping to destroy misconceptions and improve security.
             The first real standard for wireless security was WEP (Wired Equivalent Protection). It did not live up to its name. WEP offered only basic security. Free utilities available online can be used to find wireless networks and attempt to gain access, such as AirSnort. Its simplicity to crack comes from the use of a static 40 or 128 bit encryption key. This key had to be entered manually on every device wanted to communicate with the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). This in itself was enough to keep administrators of medium and large sized networks from using wireless networking. In effect WEP is a "No Trespassing" sign on your WLAN warning people that the information being transmitted is private. Because WEP is too easy to attack and get into a network, it is more effective as a warning to stay out. WEP was an early effort at security for WiFi that was not given nearly enough attention or time to develop.
             With WEP being obsolete and not nearly secure enough for sensitive information on a WLAN, the next step is WPA (WiFi protected access). WPA provides a much better security solution to WEP because of better encryption, "industrial strength authentication," and dynamic keys. WPA is much more secure in that it checks each packet for a key and then checks the message integrity using "Michael," a new method of testing the validity of an 8 bit message in each packet, before allowing its transmission over the LAN. Most equipment that supports WEP will be able to simply apply a firmware upgrade for WPA support.


Essays Related to Wireless Security

1. Internet Security and WiMAX Technology

... secure the browser, computers have a firewall and antivirus. In this paper, we are intended to discuss the wireless security and describe the mechanisms of technology to insure a protective wireless internet network. The main purpose of secure data or information transmission is that guarantee the exchanging information is not attacked by internet hackers (Hooper, 2010). Wired or cable internet networks ... the data is sent through twisted pair wires or fiber cables. However, as we mentioned, the security of wireless internet network is a primary objective of system administrators. Add...

  • Word Count: 1912
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Wireless

... 2.4GHz band. The combined results of faster speeds and cleaner air space translate into increased capacity for large file transfers, streaming video and other types of bandwidth-intensive content. WLAN Security By their very nature, wireless networks have the potential to provide access to any party in range of the system. That includes potential eavesdroppers outside the physical ... benefits of the technology and need to know how to protect their business-critical data. These users, as well as those who hesitate to deploy wireless technology because of security concerns, stand to bene...

  • Word Count: 1204
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Wireless lan

... 2.4GHz band. The combined results of faster speeds and cleaner air space translate into increased capacity for large file transfers, streaming video and other types of bandwidth-intensive content. WLAN Security By their very nature, wireless networks have the potential to provide access to any party in range of the system. That includes potential eavesdroppers outside the physical ... benefits of the technology and need to know how to protect their business-critical data. These users, as well as those who hesitate to deploy wireless technology because of security concerns, stand to bene...

  • Word Count: 1174
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Wireless Network Technology

... . A palm pilot, printer, and laptop, as well as some other electronic devices, can communicate from one another via IR. Some problems with wireless networking can be the width of the bandwidth, the interference that may be encountered, and the security issues. As one would think, the strength of the signal weakens when traveling a further distance. In regard to the interference problems, the ... use a 2.4 gigahertz spread spectrum technology, which microwave ovens, cordless phones, and some other portable devices use, and signals might be lost as a result. The security problems that migh...

  • Word Count: 948
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography

5. An overview of Wireless Networks WLAN

... is costly or prohibitive to lay cables. Temporary installations represent one example of when a wireless network might make sense or even be required. Some types of buildings or building codes may prohibit the use of wiring, making wireless networking an important alternative. Reliability, security and productivity "the same requirements that led users to adopt LANs more than ... 20 years ago "are compelling them to use wireless LAN (WLAN) technology today (Trapeze). Another reason why WLAN is attractive is that ... supports both networks in a single node, using access switch. Access sw...

  • Word Count: 1449
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. WEP Network Security

... network must use the same WEP key to gain access to the network. (We talk a bit more about how to turn on WEP in the "Clamping Down on Your Wireless Home Network's Security- section of this chapter.) For the most part, WEP is WEP is WEP. In other words, it doesn't matter which vendor made your access point or which vendor made ... common) key is 128 bits. Most equipment enables you to decide how long to make your WEP key; you can often choose 188 Part III: Installing a Wireless Network between 64 and 128 bits. Generally, for security purposes, you should pick the longest key available. ...

  • Word Count: 867
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Wireless Security (LANLock Design)

... Fortezza cards) are handled by a gateway. The gateway does not simply relay messages but performs the cryption. Encryption of information going out over the wireless network and decryption of information coming into the wired network is handled by the gateway. This is less secure for the wired network, however for the ... designed it can achieve most of the goals they had set forth at the beginning of the project. It is possible to create the security on the wireless network so that anyone eavesdropping on the network cannot use a sniffer to retrieve packets of information off the WLAN....

  • Word Count: 934
  • Approx Pages: 4

8. Paper Mobile Security Dominion

... greater advancement of the capabilities of these devices. First responders can benefit from the advances by using them within secure wireless networks to aid in their efforts. Security is a necessity in these environments and although many mechanisms are currently available for the security of networks, they are not sufficient enough to secure an application to the native device. 2. Secure Dominions Valuable ... responders on-scene. These resources are most often applications, which must be secure enough to not only share sensitive data without compromise but also prevent any unauthoriz...

  • Word Count: 5242
  • Approx Pages: 21
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. Wireless LANS

... a myriad of internal problems, such as installation of cable in asbestos-ladened buildings, preservation of historical buildings, the routing of conduit, and connecting nearby buildings, such as universities. (Lauriston 23) Wireless LANs began with three different approaches: a) Spread-spectrum radio b) Low-powered microwave c) Infrared (Lauriston 23) 5 In each case, some sort of device is attached to the computer - usually ... could make radios push a lot of data. (Derfler 42) Unfortunately new electronic devices, competing for bandwidth, are quickly gobbling up this frequency range to...

  • Word Count: 2231
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question