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    Seminor Report Presented by T.Lokesh Reddy 114C1A04B1 Ece-B Wireless Technology

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    chandra999782
    The document summarizes security threats for both home and public wireless networks. For home networks, threats include unauthorized users piggybacking on unsecured connections to access the internet and monitor network activity. Steps to secure a home network include disabling network broadcasting, encrypting traffic, changing default passwords, using file sharing cautiously, and keeping access point software updated. For public networks, threats include evil twin attacks where attackers impersonate legitimate access points to intercept user information.

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    Seminor Report Presented by T.Lokesh Reddy 114C1A04B1 Ece-B Wireless Technology

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    chandra999782
    115 views4 pages
    The document summarizes security threats for both home and public wireless networks. For home networks, threats include unauthorized users piggybacking on unsecured connections to access the internet and monitor network activity. Steps to secure a home network include disabling network broadcasting, encrypting traffic, changing default passwords, using file sharing cautiously, and keeping access point software updated. For public networks, threats include evil twin attacks where attackers impersonate legitimate access points to intercept user information.

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    The document summarizes security threats for both home and public wireless networks. For home networks, threats include unauthorized users piggybacking on unsecured connections to access the internet and monitor network activity. Steps to secure a home network include disabling network broadcasting, encrypting traffic, changing default passwords, using file sharing cautiously, and keeping access point software updated. For public networks, threats include evil twin attacks where attackers impersonate legitimate access points to intercept user information.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    115 views4 pages

    Seminor Report Presented by T.Lokesh Reddy 114C1A04B1 Ece-B Wireless Technology

    Uploaded by

    chandra999782
    The document summarizes security threats for both home and public wireless networks. For home networks, threats include unauthorized users piggybacking on unsecured connections to access the internet and monitor network activity. Steps to secure a home network include disabling network broadcasting, encrypting traffic, changing default passwords, using file sharing cautiously, and keeping access point software updated. For public networks, threats include evil twin attacks where attackers impersonate legitimate access points to intercept user information.

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    SEMINOR REPORT PRESENTED BY T.

    LOKESH REDDY 114C1A04B1 ECE-B WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

    In recent years, wireless networking has become more available, affordable, and easy to use. Home users are adopting wireless technology in great numbers. On-the-go laptop users often find free wireless connections in places like coffee shops and airports. If youre using wireless technology, or considering making the move to wireless, you should know about the security threats you may encounter. This paper highlights those threats, and explains what you need to know to use wireless safely, both in the home and in public. You will find definitions of underlined terms in the glossary at the end of this paper.

    Home Wireless Threats


    By now, you should be aware of the need to secure traditional, wired internet connections.* If youre planning to move to a wireless connection in your home, take a moment to consider what youre doing: Youre connecting a device to your DSL or cable modem that broadcasts your internet connection through the air over a radio signal to your computers. If traditional wired connections are prey to security problems, think of the security problems that arise when you open your internet connection to the airwaves. The following sections describe some of the threats to home wireless networks

    Piggybacking
    If you fail to secure your wireless network, anyone with a wireless-enabled computer within range of your wireless access point can hop a free ride on the internet over your wireless connection. The typical indoor broadcast range of an access point is 150 300 feet. Outdoors, this range may extend as far as 1,000 feet. So, if your neighborhood is closely settled, or if you live in an apartment or condominium, failure to secure your wireless network could potentially open your internet connection to a surprising number of users. Doing so invites a number of problems:

    . Service violations: You may exceed the number of connections permitted by your internet service provider. . Bandwidth shortages: Users piggybacking on your internet connection might use up your bandwidth and slow your connection. . . Abuse by malicious users: Users piggybacking on your internet connection might engage in illegal activity that will be traced to you. . Monitoring of your activity: Malicious users may be able to monitor your internet activity and steal passwords and other sensitive information. Direct attack on your computer: Malicious users may be able to access files on your computer, install spyware and other malicious programs, or take control of your computer.

    wardriving is a specific kind of piggybacking. The broadcast range of a wireless access point can make internet connections possible outside your home, even as far away as your street. Savvy computer users know this, and some have made a hobby out of driving through cities and neighborhoods with a wireless-equipped computersometimes with a powerful antennasearching for unsecured wireless networks. This practice is nicknamed wardriving. Wardrivers often note the location of unsecured wireless networks and publish this information on web sites. Malicious individuals wardrive to find a connection they can use to perpetrate illegal online activity using your connection to mask their identities. They may also directly attack your computer, as noted in the Piggybacking section above.

    Unauthorized Computer
    An unsecured wireless network combined with unsecured file sharing can spell disaster. Under these conditions, a malicious user could access any directories and files you have allowed forsharing.

    Protecting Home Wireless

    While the security problems associated with wireless networking are serious, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. The following sections describe these steps.

    Make Your Wireless Network Invisible


    Wireless access points can announce their presence to wireless-enabled computers. This is referred to as identifier broadcasting. In certain situations, identifier broadcasting is desirable. For instance, an internet cafe would want its customers to easily find its access point, so it would leave identifier broadcasting enabled. However, youre the only one who needs to know you have a wireless network in your home. To make your network invisible to others, see your access points user manual for instructions on disabling identifier broadcasting. (In Apple wireless networking, this is called creating a closed network.)

    Encrypt Your Network Traffic


    Your wireless access point device should allow you to encrypt traffic passing between the device and your computers. By encrypting wireless traffic, you are converting it to a code that can only be understood by computers with the correct key to that code. For more about encryption, see the USCERT Cyber Security Tip Understanding Encryption, http://www.us-cert.gov/ cas/tips/ST04019.html.

    Change Your Administrator Password


    Your wireless access point device likely shipped with a default password. Default passwords for various manufacturers are widely known and can be used to gain unauthorized access to your network. Be sure to change your administrator password to one that is long, contains nonalphanumeric characters (such as #, $, and &), and does not contain personal information (such as your birth date). If your wireless access point does not have a default password, be sure to create one and use it to protect your device.

    Use File Sharing with Caution


    If you dont need to share directories and files over your network, you should disable file sharing on your computers. You may want to consider creating a dedicated directory for file sharing, and move or copy files to that directory for sharing. In addition, you should password protect anything you share, and use a password that is long, contains non-alphanumeric characters (such as #, $, and &), and does not contain personal information (such as your birth date). Never open an entire hard drive for file sharing.

    Keep Your Access Point Software Patched and Up to Date


    From time to time, the manufacturer of your wireless access point will release updates to the device software or patches to repair bugs. Be sure to check the manufacturers web site regularly for any updates or patches for your devices software.

    Check Your Internet Providers Wireless Security Options


    Your internet service provider may provide information about securing your home wireless network. Check the customer suppor

    Public Wireless Threats


    A wireless-enabled laptop can make you more productive outside your office or home, but it can also expose you to a number of security threats. The following sections describe some of the security threats you face when using a public access point.

    Evil Twin Attacks


    In an evil twin attack, the attacker gathers information about a public access point, then sets up his or her own system to impersonate the real access point. The attacker will use a broadcast signal stronger than the one generated by the real access point. Unsuspecting users will connect using the stronger, bogus signal. Because the victim is connecting to the internet through the attackers system, its easy for the attacker to use specialized tools to read any data the victim sends over the internet. This data may include credit card numbers, username and password combinations, addresses, and other personal information.

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