Wireless networks come with excellent advantages- connectivity
beyond walls, wireless connection, easy to access internet even in areas where
laying cables is difficult, speed and sharing. But, wireless networks have a
few disadvantages, the major issue being- the questionable security.
Important Terms:
Access Point: The point where the mobile device,
computers connect to the wireless network.
SSID: Service Set Identifier identifies the
access point, it is a human-readable text which when broadcasted leads to the
identification of an access point.
BSSID: Mac address of the Access point.
Bandwidth: Amount of information that can be
transferred over the connection.
There are various
standards for wireless transmission:
Authentication:
Open Authentication:
When a client wants to
connect to an open access point he/she sends a probe request, and the AP sends
a probe response; the client then sends an authentication request. Upon
receiving a response, the client establishes an association with the AP.
Shared Key Authentication Process:
Here, the client sends
a probe request, and the access point sends the probe response; then, the
client requests for an authentication request, the AP sends an authentication
challenge to the client. The client needs to send the shared key as authentication
challenge response. AP, then, verifies the client and authenticates him/her,
who then establishes a connection with the access point.
Centralised Authentication:
In the corporate
environment, instead of an Access point verifying client’s authentication
details, a centralised server does the job of verifying the client. RADIUS is a
centralised authentication server which verifies clients who want to connect
with the access point.
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