Enable and Configure Security on Your Wireless Network

Enable and Configure Security on Your Wireless Network

One of the first steps of configuring a wireless network is to select a name for it. If you are creating a new wireless network, the name you choose should be different from the names of all other wireless networks within scanning range. For example, if you are creating a wireless network in your home, and your neighbor has already created a wireless network called HOME that is visible from the locations in your home, you must choose a name other than HOME. After you select a wireless network name and configure it for your wireless AP (infrastructure mode) or initial wireless client (ad hoc mode), that name is visible from any IEEE 802.11b wireless node within scanning range.

War driving is the practice of driving around business or residential neighborhoods to scan for wireless network names. People driving around the vicinity of your wireless network might be able to see your wireless network name, but whether they can do anything beyond viewing your wireless network name is determined by your use of wireless security.

If you have enabled and properly configured security on your wireless network, war drivers can see your network name and join your network; but they cannot send data, interpret the data sent on your wireless network, access the resources of your wireless or wired network (shared files, private Web sites), or use your Internet connection. Without wireless security enabled and properly configured, however, war drivers can do all of these things and more. For example, a malicious user might use your Internet connection to send e-mail or launch attacks against other computers. The malicious traffic can then be traced back to your home or small business.

It is for these reasons that Microsoft strongly urges you to enable and properly configure wireless security.



Deploying Secure 802.11 Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows
Deploying Secure 802.11 Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows
ISBN: 0735619395
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2000
Pages: 123
Authors: Joseph Davies

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