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information. This is why most experts in wireless networking strongly recommend the
use of WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). WEP encryption scrambles your wireless
signals so they can only be recognized within your wireless network.
But even WEP has its problems. WEP's encryption algorithm is referred to as "simple",
which also means "weak", because the technology that scrambles the wireless signal
isn't too hard to crack for a persistent hacker.
There are five common ways that hackers can break into your network and steal your
bandwidth as well as your data. The five attacks are popularly known as:
1. Passive Attacks
2. Jamming Attacks
3. Active Attacks
4. Dictionary-building or Table Attacks
5. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Passive Attacks
There's no way to detect a passive attack because the hacker is not breaking into your
network. He is simply listening (eavesdropping, if you will) to the information your
network broadcasts. There are applications easily available on the Internet that can
allow a person to listen into your wireless network and the information it broadcasts.
Information such as MAC addresses, IP addresses, usernames, passwords, instant
message conversations, emails, account information, and any data transmitted
wirelessly, can easily be seen by someone outside of your network because it is often
broadcast in clear text. Simply put, any information transmitted on a wireless network
leaves both the network and individual users vulnerable to attack. All a hacker needs is
a "packet sniffer", software available on the Internet, along with other freeware or
shareware hacking utilities available on the Internet, to acquire your WEP keys and
other network information to defeat security.
Jamming Attacks
Jamming Attacks, when a powerful signal is sent directly into your wireless network, can
effectively shut down your wireless network. This type of attack is not always intentional
and can often come about simply due to the technology. This is especially possible in
the 2.4 GHz frequency, where phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens can create
a great deal of interference and jam transmissions on your wireless network. One way to
resolve this is by moving your wireless devices into the 5 GHz frequency, which is
dedicated solely to information transmissions.
Active Attacks
Hackers use Active Attacks for three purposes: 1) stealing data, 2) using your network,
and 3) modifying your network so it's easier to hack in the next time.
In an Active Attack, the hacker has gained access to all of your network settings (SSID,
WEP keys, etc.) and is in your network. Once in your wireless network, the hacker has
access to all open resources and transmitted data on the network. In addition, if the
