Wireless History

High-speed wireless Ethernet first came on the scene in 1997. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created a standard named 802.11 (this is the standards-based numbering system IEEE uses and ".11" was the next available standard in the Ethernet category). While the standardization was pertinent to wireless success (as is standardization with any technology), the available technologies of the time were generally slower than most internal local area networks (LANs). While the average LAN operated at 10 Mbps at the time (Ethernet), wireless was limited to 2 Mbps. The wireless devices (generally PCMCIA cards) were difficult to configure. Additionally, similar hardware from a single vendor was generally required and the distance/availability of service was limited (compared to what we experience with today's technologies).

Two years later in 1999, the IEEE created two standards: 802.11a and 802.11b. Although they were created during the same timeframe, 802.11b became the popular choice within the IT community. This was due to the fact that 802.11a used a 5 GHz frequency range requiring more expensive hardware and additional limitations compared to 802.11b. The 802.11a standard allowed for 54 Mbps (operating in the 5 GHz range), but one of the limitations of 5 GHz frequency was it did not penetrate walls as well as the 2.4 GHz frequency used by 802.11b. The 802.11b standard was limited to 11 Mbps (operating in the 2.4 GHz range) but allowed for more interoperability between wireless hardware vendors .

With the 802.11x series standard came the most basic of security toolsthe equivalent of security on analog cordless phones. As long as you had a device that could receive frequencies in the 2.4 GHz range, you could "hear" or intercept the conversation. Since the technology was more convenient , better performing, and more affordable, the concerns around security increased significantly.

In 2002 the IEEE released the 802.11g standard. With this new standard, users received the best of both worlds . It operated in the 2.4 GHz range, giving users the same distance and wall penetrations as 802.11b, but it also allowed users to take advantage of the 54 Mbps throughput.

Note 

Some vendors advertise that by using their access points combined with their wireless cards, users can reach speeds up to 73 Mbps.

Today, there is a prevalence of all three 802.11x standards in use. Older wireless infrastructure includes many installations of 802.11b because of its popularity. With the release of 802.11g, organizations received the flexibility and increased bandwidth but also backward compatibility to 802.11b in many scenarios. Prior to the release of 802.11g, 802.11a was a more popular choice; however, it is still the underdog in the market share area amongst the three. All of these 802.11-based technologies are more commonly referred to as "WiFi" and their respective frequencies and throughput rates are listed in Table 11-1.

Table 11-1: 802.11 — Standards Information

Standard

Frequency

Maximum Throughput

802.11a

5.0 GHz

54 Mbps

802.11b

2.4 GHz

11 Mbps

802.11g

2.4 GHZ

54 Mbps

Another wireless technology gaining popularity is Bluetooth, which is showing up in more and more devices every day. Ericsson first began research and development on Bluetooth as far back as 1994. The Bluetooth name was originally given to the project as a code name. The code name was based on King Harold Bluetooth of Denmark (circa 940 to 985 AD), who was known for uniting warring countries that surrounded his country; hence Ericsson wanted Bluetooth technology to unite all electronic devices via a common means. In 1998 five companies formed a Special Interests Group (SIG) to continue research on Bluetooth technology. Fitting on a single piece of silicon about the size of a dime, manufacturers can fit this chip into almost any form factor. The technology is limited to 12 Mbps, but for devices that do not require high data rates, the speed is not a concern. Power consumption on these devices is less than any of the other wireless technologies that are mentioned, making it very popular for portable devices. Today, millions of devices have Bluetooth technology built into them.



Extreme Exploits. Advanced Defenses Against Hardcore Hacks
Extreme Exploits: Advanced Defenses Against Hardcore Hacks (Hacking Exposed)
ISBN: 0072259558
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 120

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