Protect Your WLAN: Strategies Against Network Threats and Attacks

Wireless LANs have experienced tremendous growth since the introduction of the 802.11b wireless networking standard spurred the development of a wide range of "Wi-Fi" solutions developed by network equipment vendors. Flexibility, ease of deployment and low component costs constitute three major . . . Wireless LANs have experienced tremendous growth since the introduction of the 802.11b wireless networking standard spurred the development of a wide range of "Wi-Fi" solutions developed by network equipment vendors. Flexibility, ease of deployment and low component costs constitute three major drivers for the popularity of WLANs. However, the same flexibility and mobility provided by wireless networking also introduces new security vulnerabilities in addition to those that threaten conventional LANs. For real-time communications like Wi-Fi, a comprehensive real-time network protection strategy is required to enable pervasive, widespread deployment.

WLANs are extremely vulnerable to denial-of-service attack and interruption. Any malicious hacker with a laptop and a wireless Network Interface Card can transmit wireless signal interrupters in close proximity to company sites where WLANs are deployed and effectively jam a Wi-Fi signal. Internal employees can set up their WLAN interface cards to operate in peer-to-peer (P2P) mode to communicate directly with people outside of the company.

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