Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks

[web-designer]

Wireless networks are easy to find. Hackers know that in order to join a wireless network, wireless networking products first listen for "beacon messages". These messages can be easily decrypted and contain much of the network's information, such as the network's SSID (Service Set Identifier). Here are the steps you can take:

Change the administrator's password regularly.
With every wireless networking device you use, keep in mind that network settings (SSID, WEP keys, etc.) are stored in its firmware. Your network administrator is the only person who can change network settings. If a hacker gets a hold of the administrator's password, he, too, can change those settings. So, make it harder for a hacker to get that information. Change the administrator's password regularly.

SSID.
There are several things to keep in mind about the SSID:

1. Disable Broadcast
   
2. Make it unique
   
3. Change it often

Most wireless networking devices will give you the option of broadcasting the SSID. While this option may be more convenient, it allows anyone to log into your wireless network. This includes hackers. So, don't broadcast the SSID.

Wireless networking products come with a default SSID set by the factory. Hackers know these defaults and can check these against your network. Change your SSID to something unique and not something related to your company or the networking products you use.

Change your SSID regularly so that any hackers who have gained access to your wireless network will have to start from the beginning in trying to break in.

MAC Addresses.
Enable MAC Address filtering. MAC Address filtering will allow you to provide access to only those wireless nodes with certain MAC Addresses. This makes it harder for a hacker to access your network with a random MAC Address.

WEP Encryption.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is often looked upon as a cure-all for wireless security concerns. This is overstating WEP's ability. Again, this can only provide enough security to make a hacker's job more difficult.

There are several ways that WEP can be maximized:

1. Use the highest level of encryption possible
   
2. Use "Shared Key" authentication
   
3. Change your WEP key regularly

WPA.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is the newest and best available standard in Wi-Fi security. Two modes are available: Pre-Shared Key and RADIUS. Pre-Shared Key gives you a choice of two encryption methods: TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol), which utilizes a stronger encryption method and incorporates Message Integrity Code (MIC) to provide protection against hackers, and AES (Advanced Encryption System), which utilizes a symmetric 128-Bit block data encryption. RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) utilizes a
RADIUS server for authentication and the use of dynamic TKIP, AES, or WEP.

WPA Pre-Shared Key.
If you do not have a RADIUS server, Select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES, enter a password in the Pre-Shared key field of 8-64 characters, and enter a Group Key Renewal period time between 0 and 99,999 seconds, which instructs the Router or other device how often it should change the encryption keys.

WPA RADIUS.
WPA used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router or other device.) First, select the type of WPA algorithm, TKIP or AES. Enter the RADIUS server's IP Address and port number, along with a key shared between the device and the server. Last, enter a Group Key Renewal period, which instructs the device how often it should change the encryption keys.

RADIUS.
WEP used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router or other device.) First, enter the RADIUS server's IP Address and port number, along with a key shared between the device and the server. Then, select a WEP key and a level of WEP encryption, and either generate a WEP key through the Passphrase or enter the WEP key manually.

Implementing encryption may have a negative impact on your network's performance, but if you are transmitting sensitive data over your network, encryption should be used.

These security recommendations should help keep your mind at ease while you are enjoying the flexibility and convenience of wireless technology.