Wireless Attack
The wireless attack may be also called a Wireless Network Attack. A wireless attack is a malicious intent towards wireless system information or wireless networks. Cybercriminals may carry out several cyber attacks against wireless systems or wireless networks that may include DoS attacks, Sniffing attacks, spoofing attacks, etc. Malicious purposes for attacking a wireless network may include eavesdropping on communication, disrupting the function of a wireless network, or stealing sensitive and confidential information.
The attacker usually drives around the city or within the society seeking for a wireless network to get in, an attack on WEP, WPS, and WPA/WPA2 allows attackers to hack your Wi-Fi password. If Wi-Fi security has a weak password, any attacker can perform a brute force attack using a password file dictionary.
TYPES OF WIRELESS ATTACKS
There are different methods used in a wireless attack, attacks are carried out within a connected wireless network or attacking a visible wireless network. The following are some common wireless attacks.
- Packet Sniffing: When information is sent back and forth over a network, it is sent in what we call packets. Since wireless traffic is sent over the air, it’s very easy to capture. Quite a lot of traffic (FTP, HTTP, SNMP, etc.) is sent in the clear, meaning that there is no encryption and files are in plain text for anyone to read. So using a tool like Wireshark allows you to read data transfers in plain text! This can lead to stolen passwords or leaks of sensitive information quite easily. Encrypted data can be captured as well, but it’s obviously much harder for an attacker to decipher the encrypted data packets. Continue reading…
- Rouge Access Point: Rogue Access Point is an unauthorized access point (AP) that appears on a network, it is referred to as a rogue access point. Rogue access points can disrupt wireless LAN operations by hijacking legitimate clients and using plain text or other denial-of-service or man-in-the-middle attacks. That is, a hacker can use a rogue access point to capture sensitive information, such as passwords and usernames.
- Password Attack: Password Theft may also be termed a Password Attack. The attacker usually drives around the city or within the society seeking a wireless network to get in, an attack on WEP, WPS, and WPA/WPA2 allows attackers to hack your Wi-Fi password. If Wi-Fi has a weak password, any attacker can perform a brute force attack with a password file. If a site doesn’t use SSL or TLS and runs over wireless networks, passwords are sent in the form of plain text on this wireless network, and attackers within this network can read information sent through websites over the network. An attacker can also sniff the network and capture data that contacts passwords, this attack is known as the man-in-the-middle attack.
- Man-in-the-Middle Attack: A man-in-the-middle attack is when a malicious person in a particular network has successfully positioned himself in the middle of communication and can intercept (view, capture, or modify) whatever data is communicated between two users. The malicious intent of a man-in-the-middle attack is to steal confidential information, such as bank login details, online account details, credit card numbers, email IDs, and login passwords. Information stolen during a man-in-the-middle attack could be used for many purposes that may including identity theft, illegal fund transfers, payment with stolen credit cards, etc.
- Network Jamming: Network Jamming means disrupting a network or service from a connection or communication. Flooding an AP to overwhelm the network and prevent legitimate transmissions from getting through is one method of network gaming. This attack is a little unusual because there probably isn’t anything in it to the hacker. Using a device called a Wireless Network Signal Jammer, a wireless network is jammed when an attacker places a Wireless Network Signal Jammer within the environment of wireless networking, and legitimate devices in the network may stop communicating and responding to one another.
- War Driving: War drives, also known as war dialing, Wardriving is the act of searching for Wi-Fi networks from a moving vehicle. It involves slowly driving around an area or walking around a street of buildings to locate Wi-Fi signals. This may be accomplished by an individual or by two or more people, with one person driving and others searching for wireless networks. War driving is basically people driving around looking for vulnerable APs to attack.
- Bluetooth Attack: Bluetooth attack is the search for Bluetooth devices nearby and using common tools to identify the MAC address of vulnerable Bluetooth devices. An attacker can determine which operating system his victim is using by scanning and probing the device.
Users in a wireless network / public WiFi need to set up and use VPNs while on the network. Network administrators should monitor wireless networks and Tips for securing Wireless are available.
Here are some key measures to help secure your wireless network:
Protecting against wireless network attacks is crucial for maintaining the security and privacy of your data.
- Use Strong Encryption:
- Enable WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) encryption on your router. WPA3 provides stronger security than its predecessors (WPA2, WPA) and is more resistant to various attacks.
- Secure Passwords:
- Set a strong and unique password for your Wi-Fi network. Avoid using default passwords that are often easy to guess.
- Change Default Router Login Credentials:
- Change the default username and password for your router’s administration panel to prevent unauthorized access.
- Network Name (SSID) Broadcasting:
- Disable SSID broadcasting if possible. This makes your network less visible to casual users, although it won’t provide strong security on its own.
- Implement MAC Address Filtering:
- Use MAC address filtering to specify which devices are allowed to connect to your network. While not foolproof, it adds an extra layer of security.
- Regularly Update Router Firmware:
- Keep your router’s firmware up-to-date to ensure that you have the latest security patches and improvements.
- Disable Remote Management:
- Turn off remote management features on your router, as they can be exploited by attackers. Only allow configuration changes when directly connected to the router.
- Use a Strong Encryption Protocol for VPNs:
- If you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access your network remotely, ensure that it uses a strong encryption protocol.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems:
- Consider implementing intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to monitor and block suspicious activities on your network.
- Firewall Protection:
- Activate the firewall feature on your router to filter and block unauthorized access attempts.
- Separate Guest and Primary Networks:
- If your router supports it, create a separate guest network with its own password to isolate guest devices from your main network.
- Disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup):
- WPS can have vulnerabilities that make it susceptible to attacks. Disable it unless absolutely necessary, and use alternative methods to connect devices.
- Regular Network Audits:
- Periodically review the devices connected to your network and remove any unauthorized or unknown devices.
- Educate Users:
- Educate users about the risks of connecting to open or unsecured Wi-Fi networks and encourage them to use secure networks.
- Physical Security:
- Physically secure your router in a location that is not easily accessible to unauthorized individuals.
- Network Segmentation:
- If possible, segment your network to isolate critical devices from other devices, reducing the potential impact of a breach.
- Monitor Network Traffic:
- Use network monitoring tools to keep an eye on traffic patterns and detect unusual activities that may indicate a security breach.
- Penetration Testing:
- Conduct regular penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities in your network and address them proactively.
By implementing these security measures, you can significantly enhance the protection of your wireless network and reduce the risk of unauthorized access or attacks. It’s important to stay vigilant and keep abreast of emerging threats to adapt your security practices accordingly.