802.11 Security

Preface

From the early days of wireless communication, the ability to transmit news, thoughts, and feelings without wires has revolutionized our daily lives. The radio broadcasts of the 1920s brought instant news and entertainment to households all over the world. The adoption of television in the 1950s added a visual aspect to the experience. CB radio made a big impact in the 1970s, allowing individuals within a limited distance to talk with each other while on the road. In the 1980s, cellular phones and pagers allowed people to be connected to their home or office no matter where they were. Now at the start of the 21^st century, low-cost, high-speed wireless data networking has become a reality. Anyone can go to his or her local computer store and easily purchase wireless networking equipment that can transmit packet-based data at millions of bits per second.

Throughout the entire process, the integrity and confidentiality of the information traveling through the air has always been a concern. Who is really broadcasting the signal you are receiving? Is anyone eavesdropping on the signal? How can you make sure that an eavesdropper is unable to obtain useful information from the signal? These questions are not particularly important when you are watching television but become critical when you are transmitting data between military installations or making a stock transaction over the Internet using your 802.11b-capable PDA. Due to the ease with which an attacker can intercept or modify ...