A Report on Threats to Wireless Networks and Security Countermeasures

This report examines the threats associated with wireless networks and provides countermeasures to mitigate these risks. It begins by defining wireless networks and then addresses several research questions, including the nature of wireless threats and the technologies employed. The report details various threats, such as malicious association, ad-hoc networks, identity theft, network injection, accidental association, and denial-of-service attacks. It then explores countermeasures, including encryption, firewalls, changing default router passwords, disabling identifier broadcasting, and turning off the wireless network when not in use. The report emphasizes the real-world impact of these issues, highlighting the importance of staying updated with the latest technological upgrades and using antivirus programs. The conclusion underscores the need for awareness of current threats and the implementation of basic countermeasures to secure systems.

Running head: INFORMATION SECURITY 1
Threats to wireless networks and countermeasures
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Executive Summary
The wireless network offers many benefits however it is additionally couples with new security
threats which impacts on the organization general information security risk profiles. The
execution of the systems is the usual reaction to the wireless security threats as well as the
vulnerabilities, the wireless security is much more of the management concern. Existence of an
effective management of the threats that is related to the wireless technology involves a sound in
addition to a thorough assessment of the risk provided the environment as well as the progression
of the plan to alleviate identified threats . Within this report, it would accentuate the threats of
the wireless network and provide some countermeasures to these aspects. Moreover, the research
will highlights some research questions which will be the basis of the research.
Key words: countermeasures, wireless network

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Introduction
The wireless network provides present some advantages when it comes to improvement of the
productivity of an organization as they will be able to access their resource data effectively
(Choi, Robles, Hong & Kim, 2008). The aspect of the configurations within a network is much
less difficult, quicker and less expensive. On the other hand, the wireless technology generates
some threats which could alter on the pre-existing data risk profile for an organization. In this
research it aims to explore more on the topic of wireless network. Some of the research questions
which will be addressed are;
What is regarded as the wireless network?
How are the threats being addressed?
What are some of the countermeasures to the wireless network threats?
What are some of the technology which are used in wireless network?
Scope of engagement
This report examines the numerous threats that are associated to the wireless network.
Furthermore, it will highlights on some of the countermeasures which are associated to the
wireless network against those threats (Karygiannis & Owens, 2002).
Tools which are used
There are numerous tools that are utilized when an individual is undertaking a research in
relation to the wireless network security and the countermeasures (Malik, 2013). The research
may utilize the scope of to the local area network tool for the purpose of use to the personal
computers, switches as well as the access of the networks (Malik, 2013). Additionally, it would

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be significant to using applications for the communication within the local area network to have
the ability to identify how these attacks could take place.
Summary of the findings
Applications of the technologies
Some of the application for this technology is the IEE 802.15.4 which is a wireless technology
that is gaining traction to the LPWAN group. The technology is used in the Mesh networks that
allows the nodes to be connected together by multiple pathways (Kalita & Kar, 2009). Another is
the Bluetooth and BLE which are wireless technologies which are used in transferring of the data
especially over a short distance (Karygiannis & Owens, 2002). Other technologies are WiMax
which is a wireless technology which allows data to be transferred at the rate of thirty to forty
megabits per second.
Threats of the wireless network
Wireless networks are important because of their convenience, efficiency in regards to cost and
ease especially in the integration with some of the other networks and network elements (Karlof
& Wagner, 2003). The following are the threats which are associated to the wireless network.
Malicious association
This threat occurs when an attacker is able to connect to the network of the organization by
penetrating the network by use of a laptop (Karygiannis & Owens, 2002). These laptops are
known as the soft Access point (Sharma & Ghose, 2010). When the hacker is in a position to
acquire the gain access to of the network they steal passwords or perhaps launch an attack to the
wired network or perhaps place a Trojan application.

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Ad-hoc networks
These are kind of network which are regarded to as the peer-to peer wireless computers and they
usually do not have any access point between them (Karlof & Wagner, 2003). The network has
little protection and it is easy to penetrate the network.
Identity theft
This kind of attack happens when the hacker is capable to listen to the traffic of the system after
which identify a MAC address to the target computer that has the privileges of the networks. In most of
the wireless system permits MAC to manage to filter the allowed authorized gain access to by use of the
MAC ids and gain access and utilize the network.
Network injection
In this kind of threat of wireless network the hacker utilizes an access point that are exposed to
the non-filtered network such as the broadcasting of the traffic of the network for example the
spanning tree, or the HSRP (Kalita & Kar, 2009). The attacker inject what is regarded as a bogus
network reconfiguration commands which have an impact to the routers, intelligence of the hubs
as well as the switches in the network (Kalita & Kar, 2009). When this has been done the
attacker bring down all the network down. The only way to restore it would be through rebooting
or even reprogramming of the intelligent network devices.
Accidental association
This threat occurs when there is unauthorized access to the wireless network of the organization
which can take various methods. This usually happens when the user turns on their PC and it
latches to a wireless access point from the neighboring overlapping network of the organization.
This is a breach for an organization since their data may be compromised.

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Denial of services (DOS)
This threat occurs when an attacker is able to bombard an access point of a target network with
the aid of a bogus request, commands or even a malfunction message. Such request could cause
the legitimate users not to be able to access the network or even cause a crush to the network.
The hacker usually depends on the neglect of the protocol for the network for instance the
extensible Authentication protocol within the network.
Counter measures for wireless networks threats
The use of encryption: This is one of the most widely used way of securing of the wireless
networks from the attacker. The network is usually encrypted to prevent unauthorized access to
individuals who are not privileged to access it. Most of the wireless routers as well as the access
point of the networks have an inbuilt mechanism to be able to encrypt the data. The
manufactures delivery the wireless routers which have encryption capabilities but in most of the
time they are usually turned off thus individuals who acquire it should turn on this encryption
feature.
Firewalls
The firewalls usually block any unauthorized communication between both internal as well as
external networks (Zia & Zomaya, 2006). An example of firewall which could be implemented is
the packet-filtering firewalls. This firewall is implemented by configuring the router to filter
packets which are going in both of the directions (Karygiannis & Owens, 2002). It usually works
at the IP network layer. This firewall has the capability of filtering the IP packets which are
based on fields such as the IP address, TCP source port as well as the destination of the IP
address.

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Change of the router to pre-set the password for the administrator
The manufacture of the wireless routers in most of the instances have them assigned a default
passwords which enables the users to operate on them (Sharma & Ghose, 2010). The attackers
most of the time know that the password are at default and could easily exploit on this and access
the network (Yu, Li, Zhou & Li, 2012). It is vital to change them to something which no other
person knows (Noor & Hassan, 2013). Moreover, the password should be complex and long so
that it becomes hard for the attacker to crack it.
When it comes to the threat of identity threat it can be mitigated through combination of various
software that allows the computers to enable the computers seem as if it is operating under a
MAC address that an attacker desire and this would enable them to be hurdled in getting around
this attack (Wu, Chen, Wu & Cardei, 2007).
Turning off the wireless network when one is not in use of it.
When one is not using the network it is important to always turn it off. The attackers have no
capability of accessing the wireless routers particularly when it is turned off (Raymond &
Midkiff, 2008). Moreover, when one turns on the router it is vital to limit the access at any
particular point which becomes susceptible to the hacker to penetrate it.
Turning off the identifier broadcasting
Many of the wireless routers have mechanism to what is regarded as the identifier broadcasting.
This technology send out signal to devices that are near the area of access of the network
(Pathan, Lee & Hong, 2006). The hackers may utilize the identifier which is broadcasting the
wireless network and gain access to the system. It is vital to disable on any identifier that is
broadcasting the wireless network.

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The impact of the above discussed issues in the real life
The wireless network could offer numerous opportunities particularly to people as well as the
organization to be able to increase the productivity. When it comes to the real life the wireless
network has been able to impact it in a number of ways to the organizations as well as
individuals. One of the benefits it has it is convenient, as well as cost effective. Moreover, it has
provided integration especially incorporating with the other network which has become much
easier. The PCs which are sold have a pre-equipped wireless network technology. The research
has examined on some of the threats which are associated with the wireless networks along with
the counter measures to these issue, I intend to use this information for my personal protecting
against threat as well as educate other individuals who are not aware of the risks. The use of
program such as anti-virus could be important to keep the network more secure. It is important to
stay up to date with the latest technological upgrades to be able to keep the network secure.
The most important lesson I have learnt from the discussion
From this discussion I have learnt various aspects, but the most significant of them all include
there exists many threats in the wireless network and it is important for one to have an anti-virus
which is up to date to protect the system from any attacker. Moreover, I have learnt that when
buying the router it is important to pre-set the password as many attacker knows that many
individuals do not know about that and can penetrate the network.
Conclusion
This aim of the research has been to discuss on the wireless network threats and their counter
measures that one needs to use. Currently, there are majority of the wireless network which are
used in home, as well as offices in many of the companies. Organizations as well as individuals

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utilizing them need to understand there has been an increase in number of threat associated to the
wireless network and the hackers are stealing data every day. There is a need to be aware of the
current threats posed and how to mitigate them without even the use of the professional experts.
Knowing the basic counter measure would be the starting point to keep one system secure. Its
vital for one to monitor on all their connections in the network and identify any unusual activity.
Moreover, keeping of one’s system up to date with the latest antivirus program as well as patches
would be most effective to keep the hackers from gaining an entry to the system.

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References
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Journal of Next-Generation Networks (IJNGN), 1(1), 1-10.
Karlof, C., & Wagner, D. (2003). Secure routing in wireless sensor networks: Attacks and
countermeasures. Ad hoc networks, 1(2), 293-315.
Karygiannis, T., & Owens, L. (2002). Wireless network security. NIST special publication, 800,
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Malik, M. Y. (2013). An outline of security in wireless sensor networks: Threats,
countermeasures and implementations. arXiv preprint arXiv:1301.3022.
Noor, M. M., & Hassan, W. H. (2013). Wireless networks: developments, threats and
countermeasures. International Journal of Digital Information and Wireless
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Pathan, A. S. K., Lee, H. W., & Hong, C. S. (2006, February). Security in wireless sensor
networks: issues and challenges. In Advanced Communication Technology, 2006. ICACT
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Wu, B., Chen, J., Wu, J., & Cardei, M. (2007). A survey of attacks and countermeasures in
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Yu, Y., Li, K., Zhou, W., & Li, P. (2012). Trust mechanisms in wireless sensor networks: Attack
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Zia, T., & Zomaya, A. (2006, October). Security issues in wireless sensor networks. In Systems
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