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Wireless Network & Security

This task requires to analysis large-scale wireless network. For collecting data about access

points as well preparing technical reports about technology used, channels, data rates, network

types, interference with other networks, security protocols and so on; the WLAN sniffing tool

named Acrylic is used.

The chosen tool, Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps is used to survey locations for providing wireless

network coverage. For analyzing actual Wi-Fi network coverage and performance by Wi-Fi

infrastructure measurement, this tool is very necessary. The collected data is very much required

for identifying, diagnosising and quantifying all types of issues for wireless communications

under present network configurations.

1)

Before starting any wireless network analysis task, creating a new site survey project or open an

existing project is needed. For creating a new site survey project for the purpose of Wi-Fi

infrastructural analaysis and detecting possible improvements, the screenshot is given below,-

The above figure shows the hierarchy of locations and sub-locations for a shopping center where

ground floor (main floor) is the Supermarket and Mall, different departmental stores are located



at first floor as well as cinema and restaurants are in the second floor. The Acrylic Wi-Fi

Heatmaps is used to sort the locations into sub-locations and to cover different locations

including indoor and outdoor areas. In the above figure, 3 different locations are defines in each

floor where name and description are also given. After creating the locations for performing site

surveys on each of them, the present location is first selected.

At the time of Scanning, the data is captured from the wireless medium by Acrylic Wi-Fi

Heatmaps. With the help of this tool, all detected access points are visualized. In the case of site

survey on Monitor Mode, how many clients are connected with these access points are also

shown in the following screenshot.

The above window is very much helpful to know the status of all Wi-Fi devices. Each row shows

a particular device where each column shows the device information including SSID (Service



Set Identifier), # (number of devices connected to the network), MAC address, Signal Strength,

Signal-to-Noise Ratio, security options, etc.

2)

In the selected area, 0-Main Floor; the access points are shown where the networks are

identified at the time of scanning.

By using the rectangle selection pointer, it is possible to visualize the location of an access point.

In the case of surveyed area, Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps is used for geopositioning and

triangulating the access points. This tool analyzes the detected access points as well comparing

results that are performed against all scans on other locations. This tool is able for detecting

access points that are belonging to the surveyed area or not.



In the current location, all access points are displayed in a table arranged in a sorted way

according to the network name. In the case of locating an access point to a different location,

then the Other Location Element should be categorized. If an access point is not defined in a

particular location then it can be appear under this element as well as cannot be viewed in the

active view.

Manual Location: To locate an access point manually, this option is used. When an

access point is detected in a different location by a stronger signal level, the access point

can be located manually in the selected location.

At the time of scanning, the detection of access points are automatically located if the values

for signal strengths are higher than the minimum signal strength threshold values that are

predefined. But, there are some manual options to modify or adjust the access point association

in a project’s physical locations. In this case, the access point is to be selected that is required for

modifying.



After clicking the button on Manual Locate, the location of access points is to be indicated by

clicking on the satellite view or blueprint view.

Automatic Location: This option is used for locating an access point automatically.

Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps is used to process the data collection for selected access points.

In this case, the geopositioning and triangulation algorithms are used for establishing the

access point’s most probable location. By selection this option, the manually selected

access points are overridden.



Remove an Access Point: This option is used to remove the location of an access point.

After removing, the access points would be included in other Location group but this

access point is not visible until it is assigned to another location.

3) (a) & (b)

Observations from Site Survey Results:

Routes: The list of locations are shown as below when scanning in a particular survey

area. The screenshot is,-



At the time of scanning a location, data collection points are created. The following technical

information about different types of Scan is obtained,-

.

1. Manual: From the blueprint or satellite map, these points are manually selected at the

time of scanning. But, ensure that the scan should be Normal or Continuous Mode.

2. Calculated: When the site survey is done in continuous mode, these points are created.

The measurements between two points are done by the Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps and

these intermediate points are responsible for referencing these measurements.

3. GPS: At the time of GPS enabled scan, these points are automatically generated by the

Acrylic tool. At the time of GPS-enabled scanning, the following screenshot is

achieved,-



4. Embedded: At the time of Embedded GPS enabled scan, these types of points are

automatically generated by Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps. But, in this case the MS Windows

geopositioning service is used. Naturally, this mode is required only for GPS enabled

devices like tablets.

5. Options: At the time of selecting a point, all available options like Move point, Delete

point, etc are shown at the bottom context panel. For example, to gather technical

information about a point, after clicking on the Move Survey Point button then blueprint

or satellite map’s point position is to be selected. This is shown in the following

screenshot,-



Report generation:

For finding report about observation, first need to select those access points from where report is

to be generated among all the collected information. The scans and locations must be included.

The screenshot is shown as below,-



For selecting information the following steps are required,-

Step 1: After selecting location and within those locations, the scans would be included in the

report as below screenshot.



Step 2: In this step, the access points are selected that must be included in the report as below

screenshot,-



For Managing the Wi-Fi, the following recommendations are considered.

1. Update MAC Address: This option is very useful for managing the wireless device

database that is required to identify each manufacture of the device by MAC address.

This database is known as Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) that may be used by the

device manufacturers but respective manufacturers many not be related with some devices.



2. The configuration section of Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps is used to manage user interface

aspects in the following manner.

3) (C) Evaluation:

(i) Dual bands: In the case of Wi-Fi network connections, some issues are identified like

speed is a constraint, channel saturation, etc. To resolve these issues, the dual band is

used. In the above case, the disconnection of network may be happened due to using

2.4GHz spectrum. The dual band is capable for connecting 2.4GHz wireless adapters.

So, no channel saturation is found for using the dual band. The advantages of dual

bands are as follows,-

Resolve signal interference: The dual band has the ability for switching frequencies

from 2.4GHz to 5GHz for avoiding traffic congestion. So, less utilized 5GHz frequency

can be enjoyable with the help of dual-band routers.



Compatibility: The dual band routers are capable to work with different wireless

networking devices. 2.4GHz and 5GHz both are supported by dual band router to work

with any network adapter.

Customization of Wireless Network Settings: The dual band network has the ability for

customization wireless network settings as per needs.

(ii) Security implications:

After conducting the site survey with NetSpot WiFi Site Survey tools, the rogue APs can be

detected. After site surveying, unauthorized workstations would be detected. By organizing

laptops and PDAs with wireless adapters along with MAC address, user and OS information;

WLAN access control is possible. This data is very much required for misplacing or stolen

WLAN adapters. From this data, close-by APs and stations that are not belonging to the network

are also identified. By surveying public area in all deeper levels; the MAC address,

SSID(network name) as well as channel would be recorded. This data is very much helpful for

avoiding cross-inference as well as offering alert for false-positive intrusion. The

recommendation is to get APs with high-grade antennas and strong signal so that their narrow

focus must provide better security for the signal as well as avoiding to leak outside. The

following steps are necessary for Wi-Fi network security.

Step 1: Unique and strong password should be given to the routers.

Step 2: The resources are to be protected by evaluating threats and risks. In this case, encryption

technique in wireless AP as well as suitable cryptographic checksum would be used.

Step 3: The topology should be chosen correctly so that placement of devices must enhance

wireless LAN security. The placement of APs must be restricted within the network.

Step 4: For network protection from eavesdropping attack, the WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) would

be implemented. In this case, information transmitting over the air would encrypted so that hackers can

not decrypt it properly.

Step 5: The VPN can be used for WLAN security. In the case of high-speed wireless LAN, to

encrypt more data VPN is very necessary.

Step 6: The wireless Signal Range can be controlled. In the case of small office, the mode of

WiFi router can be changed to 802.11g instead of 802.11b or 802.11n otherwise a different Wi-

Fi channel can be used. This technique obviously implements better security for Wi-Fi channels.

(iii) Other Aspects:



SSID: It is a service set identifier and also know as the network name. In the case of scanning

with Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps tools, the network name is hidden and shown as red. This network

name is inferred by the software.

Vendor: The Wi-Fi device uses the vendor name which is the manufacturer brand name of the

network. This information can be collected from the MAC address but it cannot be edited.


wireless network & security - sample assignment · wireless network & security this task...

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