Wireless Networking Resources, WAP, Wifi, and more.

Historically, communications between computer systems have been tethered together with cables and wires, but that is rapidly changing. Wireless networks offer communication between computer devices almost anywhere, unconstrained by the physical limitations of a wired network. Before we get started, there are a few primary components that make up a wireless network you should be familiar with:

• Wireless Access Points (AP) which provide connectivity between traditional wired networks and the unwired world;
• Wireless Network Interface Cards (wNIC) installed in computers to access the Wireless Network; and,
• The Wireless Local Area Network (wLAN) itself containing a combination of AP's and wNIC's.

In a typical wired network, a computer is connected to other computers via a cable of some type. Electrical pulses or optical light waves carry data from the computer to the networking infrastructure equipment where it is then carried to the final destination via even more cables. In a wireless network, this same data is instead transmitted over the air in radio frequencies, similar to the operation of cellular phones. A computer wishing to talk on a wireless network must first connect, or associate, to a wireless Access Point. This association is similar to plugging a network cable into a computer on your desk. If no mechanism exists on the wireless network to identify or authenticate the computer attempting to communicate on the wireless network, data communication is freely established.

Since wireless networking is simply a new method of transporting data without wires, applications such as e-mail, web browsing and sharing of data files can continue to operate uninhibited. Furthermore, many specialized variations of wireless network technologies are starting to merge together to provide seamless resource connectivity and sharing, which reduces implementation and operational costs. Portable hand-held barcode scanners that traditionally operated on their own proprietary architectures now operate on standard Ethernet networks and infrastructure. Personal electronic organizers can now automatically update contact and calendar entries and even surf the web from almost anywhere. There have even been tests in some grocery stores to automatically update a digital price tag for displayed products without actually having to physically visit the shelf. As you can imagine, with the number of vendors and applications vying for a niche in the marketplace, a wide variety of disparate systems and services have arisen. The need for some sort of standardization quickly became apparent.

In order to facilitate a standard mechanism for otherwise incompatible wireless services to interoperate, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) formed a committee to extend the standards established for Ethernet communication to the Wireless network. This standardization allows for any wireless device to now operate on an Ethernet network just as a personal computer does. Without a method to restrict access to only authorized devices and users, an entire network can easily be compromised given the free and open connectivity of Wireless networking, and can be done without ever obtaining physical access to the network itself. One can now quickly and easily install a wireless network in a home or office with little or no networking knowledge for as little as $300. However, the convenience and availability of these wireless networks comes at a cost - they may pose a security risk.

Why are Wireless Networks at Risk?

As the name implies, wireless networks provide network connectivity in a wire-free environment. While the freedom from physical constraints of a wired environment can be greatly liberating, it also means that the information being communicated along the network is free of physical constraints, this can create problems in controlling who is able to receive the data. Wireless networking allows for network connectivity in large areas where running physical cabling is not practical, such as in a large distribution warehouse, in dynamic areas such as conference rooms where an undetermined amount of users require network access, or to allow for ease of use for roaming users, such as an administrator wandering from computer room to computer room. While wireless networking provides great flexibility, it does not simply stop at the building walls. The wireless signal currently can be detected up to 1500 ft. away, and at even greater distances with specialized equipment.

A plan designed to allow wireless connectivity to a conference room may also have enabled network connectivity in the parking lot or possibly to another company on another floor. Unauthorized users could easily purchase a wireless network interface card and connect to a network, thus completely bypassing firewalls or other protection mechanisms. This could allow the malicious user to sniff passwords, steal proprietary information, launch untraceable denial of service attacks or hack another company with the target companies' resources, which could leave the company open to legal recourse or public humiliation. Attempts to track down the attacker will be difficult, if not impossible.