Mobile Hotspot Security Analysis

This assignment delves into the analysis of security vulnerabilities associated with mobile and Wi-Fi hotspot technology. It outlines a comprehensive research process, beginning with topic selection and feasibility assessment, progressing through data collection and analysis methods, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The research aims to identify patterns in security attacks and risks related to hotspots, propose effective user practices for mitigating these risks, and recommend logical, physical, and technical controls for enhancing hotspot security. Finally, the assignment concludes with an analysis of areas for improvement and key lessons learned from the research.

Mobile & Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology & Security
3/21/2018

Mobile & Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology & Security
Table of Contents
Title.......................................................................................................................................................2
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Background Details...........................................................................................................................2
Need for Research.............................................................................................................................2
Motivation for Research....................................................................................................................2
Significance of Research in Problem Solving....................................................................................3
Researcher’s Perspective...................................................................................................................3
Aim/Objective of the Research..........................................................................................................3
Materials & Methods.............................................................................................................................4
Research Methodology – Qualitative & Quantitative Research.........................................................4
Data Collection Methods...................................................................................................................4
Expected Outcome.................................................................................................................................5
Timeline................................................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................7
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Mobile & Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology & Security
Title
Mobile & Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology & Security
Introduction
Background Details
A hotspot is a physical location where the users may obtain internet access with the aid of the
Wi-F I technology. The connection is made using Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
through the router connected with Internet Service Provider.
There are a number of security issues that are being witnessed in the area of mobile and Wi-
Fi hotspot technology. Also, the usual security controls and parameters, such as encryption in
these connections are not strong. There are also unsecure steps and practices adopted by the
users that result in the compromise of security [1].
Need for Research
The common encryption methods, such as WEP and WPA that are used for the protection of
the private networks are not applicable in the cases of mobile and Wi-Fi hotspots. There is a
lot of complexity associated with the supporting users that result in the difficulty to ensure
the security of the networks [2].
The research is necessary to understand the common mobile and Wi-Fi hotspot security
issues and understand the practices that may be adopted to control and avoid the same.
Motivation for Research
The increased use of mobile and Wi-Fi hotspots puts the risk of people capturing real-time
data and information from the network traffic. The unsecure hotspots allow the users to easily
capture the sensitive data and information with much ease. These issues have led to the
compromise of the security and privacy of the data and information [3].
The increased frequency of such risks and attacks provided the motivation to research upon
the common issues and causes behind these attacks, the prevention mechanism that shall be
adopted to control these attacks, and the best practices that shall be utilized to avoid these
attacks.
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Mobile & Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology & Security
Significance of Research in Problem Solving
There are a number of issues that are associated with the security aspect of mobile and Wi-Fi
hotspot technology. Some of these include the login information that is put on the unsecured
websites along with the private content that is not secured, open access to the shared files on
the mobile device, caching of the browsing history, legal obligations, operator issues in
hotspot, saved login data and information, inadequate integration of public and private
networks, and many more.
These problems can further lead to the risks, such as legal obligations and punishments,
ethical and social issues. The research will be extremely significant in listing out the solutions
to these problems as the root-cause analysis will be done to understand the primary causes
behind the occurrence of these attacks. Also, the research will cover a combination of
qualitative and quantitative research methodology to ensure that all the aspects of the mobile
and Wi-Fi hotspot technology and security are discovered to avoid the risks and attacks.
Researcher’s Perspective
The repeated occurrence of the security risks and attacks with the attack surface as the mobile
and Wi-Fi hotspot technology is due to the security vulnerabilities that are presented in these
connections. The researchers are targeting to explore the primary causes of the issues and to
find out the common user errors that enhance the likelihood of the security attacks.
The researchers will be working in two major aspects of the security issues associated with
the hotspots. The first one revolves around the inadequate and unauthorized usage of
bandwidth by the malevolent entity using the security vulnerabilities in the hotspot
connection. The second one is associated with the ability that the malicious entities get to
gain access to the laptops or other mobile devices that are connected with the hotspot
connections.
Aim/Objective of the Research
The primary aim of the research is to list out the security issues and problems that are
associated with the mobile and Wi-Fi hotspot technology. The research also aims at finding
the best practices that the users shall adopt to avoid and control these issues along with the
other logical, physical, and technical controls that may be applied.
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Mobile & Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology & Security
Materials & Methods
Research Methodology – Qualitative & Quantitative Research
The research methodology that will be used to carry out the research process will be a mix of
qualitative as well as quantitative analysis.
The qualitative process will accomplish the research on the basis of the data collection and
investigation techniques that will be adopted. These techniques will include interviews, group
discussions, brainstorming sessions, and observations. The data that will be investigated and
gathered through these processes will be analysed to understand the patterns involved in the
occurrence of security risks and attack. These patterns will then be used to develop and list
out the control measures that shall be applied to prevent and avoid the security attacks [4].
The second approach that will be followed in the research process will be quantitative method
of research. This methodology will be based on the mathematical concepts and numerical
data to understand the statistics behind the security attacks in mobile and Wi-Fi hotspot
technology [5].
Data Collection Methods
There will be a lot of data and information that will be necessary for conducting the research.
The data required for the purpose of conducting the research will be collected through the
following methods.
 Interviews: The interview process will be carried out with the security teams of
various organizations along with the hotspot users to understand the user practice,
loopholes in security, controls that may be applied and the best practices that may be
used.
 Brainstorming Sessions: The technique will provide the analysis from the perspective
of newer ideas and concepts in the field of research [6].
 Observations: The existing hotspot connections, the security protocols in these
connections, and the user practices involved will be assessed and analysed in this
method.
 Group Discussions: There will be group discussions organized with the security
teams, experts, end-users, and others to understand the various security aspects of
mobile and Wi-Fi technology.
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Mobile & Wi-Fi Hotspot Technology & Security
Expected Outcome
The expected outcome of the research is the list of the security issues and concerns revolving
around the mobile and Wi-Fi hotspot technology. It is also expected that the research will
provide the set of best practices that shall be used and applied by the end-users for safer
hotspot connections. The list of controls is also expected to be provided as an outcome of the
research process.
Timeline
The research process will be carried out in a period of 12 weeks and the tasks that will be
completed in each of these 12 weeks has been listed in the table below.
Week Task
1 Selection of the research topic and its finalization
2 Conduction of the feasibility study to ensure that the research can be
carried out on the topic as Mobile & Wi-Fi hotspot technology and
security
3 Research Planning: Listing of the research questions that will be
answered and selection of research methodology
4 Selection of the data collection methods and techniques that will be
applied
5 Collection of the data by conducting the techniques identified for the
same
6 Analysis of the data that is collected for the research
7 Identification of patterns and trends involved in the security attacks and
risks associated with the hotspots
8 Conduction of quantitative methods of research to understand the
statistics involved
9 Identification of the best user practices that shall be adopted to control
the security risks and events associated with the hotspot connections
10 Identification of the logical, physical, and technical controls that may
be applied to put a check on the security issues
11 Analysis of the further areas of improvements and listing of the lessons
acquired from the research
12 Final phase with research presentation and closure
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