It is no secret that wireless local area networks, or WLANs , can be probed by anyone within range of their radio signal, leaving them vulnerable to eavesdropping, unauthorized access and even viruses. In short, most WLANs have security loopholes large enough to drive a truck through.

WEP (wired equivalent privacy), is the security mechanism that comes standard with 802.11 products, but its days are short-lived. That is because a new standard - Wi-Fi protected access, or WPA - is on the way. In the meantime, however, vendors are not waiting for certification; they are building products to bridge the time lag and give WLAN administrators solutions now.

[ Read more ]

Comment:

For all your wireless security information needs, visit the Wireless outside articles section of HNS.

Related items

• Software: Kismet
• Software: AirSnort
• Software: Fake AP
• Software: WifiScanner
• Software: PrismStumbler
• Software: Wellenreiter
• Article: Wireless Security Threats (9 October 2002)
• Software: APTools