WIRELESS NETWORKING

What are the advantages to wireless networking?

• How has society changed?

What are the disadvantages to wireless networking?

• Are there health concerns?

Components of a Wireless Network• Wireless network card

• Network card w/ an antenna

• Wireless router or access point• Access point may be physically wired to a router

• Signal• Strong enough signal to communicate• Stronger signals have less packet loss

• Why do weak signals result in slower internet?

Vocabulary• WiFi

• Trademarked name for marketing by Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (Wi-Fi Alliance)

• IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence• WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

• Wi-Fi standard designed for 30-40 Mbit/s wireless transfer• WiMAX updated to 1 Gbit/s transfer• Based on IEEE 802.16 (wireless broadband standards)

• 3G (3rd generation of mobile telecommunications tech)• Mobile data transfer standard

• Future standards?• http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX#Competing_technologies

Network Security• Encryption Types

• Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)• http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy#Encryption_details

• Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)• Extra safeguards to prevent encryption attacks

• Hash function to mix the initialization vector (seed) and secret key• Sequence counter to prevent replay attacks

• UserID and password• MAC address filtering

• MAC address ~ Media Access Control address

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each security methodSecurity Method Advantages Disadvantages

Encryption

UserID & password

MAC address filtering