In keeping your wireless network safe, using strong passwords is important, but it’s only part of the solution. Picking the right level of encryption is equally crucial. The choice you make can decide whether your wireless LAN is easily breakable or highly secure. This blog will explore “What are the Features of Wireless Security Protocols?”. If you’re interested in enhancing your networking skills, you may want to explore a CCNA Course In Chennai.
What is Wireless Security?
Wireless networks are becoming increasingly complex, with a range of devices like IoT and personal gadgets, along with hybrid cloud setups. IT experts face the challenging task of not just managing this plethora of devices but also ensuring their security.
The complexity doesn’t end there. Professionals also grapple with cloud-managed wireless LAN structures, IoT devices without user interfaces, and end-users who might resist new security measures that could disrupt their internet access.
To add to the difficulties, there’s a constant threat of advanced cyber attacks, some of which aim to take advantage of weaknesses in business wireless networks.
Wireless network security refers to the methods and software used to safeguard the infrastructure and data transmitted over a WLAN. Essentially, it involves setting guidelines for which devices can access a Wi-Fi network via network access and security policies. Technology is then employed to enforce these rules and shield the network from any unauthorized attempts to breach it.
How does Wireless Security Work?
Security for wired networks is focused on protecting data transmitted through devices connected via Ethernet cables, such as switches and routers. On the other hand, wireless security is primarily concerned with safeguarding data transmitted through the air between wireless devices. This includes communication between wireless access points and controller devices, or between access points in a mesh network, as well as communication between access points and devices connected to the Wi-Fi network.
Encryption is a crucial tool in establishing a secure network, particularly in a wireless LAN setting. It uses complicated algorithms to scramble messages as they progress between wireless devices. Even if intercepted, these messages remain incomprehensible to unauthorized users without the decryption key.
Over time, wireless encryption standards have developed in response to evolving network demands, emerging security issues, and the discovery of vulnerabilities in previous encryption protocols.
How do Unsecured Networks Create Risks?
Similar to how an unlocked building is a genuine invitation to burglars, an unsecured network is highly vulnerable to internal or external threat actors aiming to steal data, eavesdrop, or engage in other harmful activities. In the case of wireless networks, the risk is even more significant as anyone within range can intercept the radio waves carrying Wi-Fi traffic, without needing direct access to the hardware.
To provide a clearer picture, imagine sitting in a crowded restaurant and overhearing another diner loudly sharing sensitive information over a call with their bank. They might reveal their credit card numbers, Social Security number, name, date of birth, and more, within earshot of everyone. Anyone could use this information for various fraudulent activities and identity theft. This scenario is similar to how an unsecured or inadequately secured wireless network appears to potential attackers.
Apart from the threat of eavesdropping and data breaches, malicious actors can exploit unsecured wireless networks as an entry point to gain access to the wider enterprise network. While encryption doesn’t completely solve this issue, attackers who detect a WLAN with outdated encryption protocols are likely to probe for other weak points in the wireless network.
Types of Wireless Security Protocols
The majority of wireless access points (APs) offer the option to enable one of four wireless encryption standards:
- Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
- WPA2
- WPA3
How does WEP work?
The Wi-Fi Alliance introduced WEP as the first encryption algorithm for the 802.11 standard, aiming to prevent hackers from eavesdropping on wireless data transmitted between clients and access points. Despite its inception in the late 1990s, WEP fell short of its goal due to its lack of robustness.
WEP employs the RC4 (Rivest Cipher 4) stream cipher for both authentication and encryption. Initially, it utilized a 40-bit preshared encryption key, later upgrading to a 104-bit key after certain U.S. government restrictions were lifted.
Administrators must manually input and correct the key, which connects with a 24-bit initialization vector (IV) in an attempt to bolster encryption. However, the small size of the IV increases the likelihood of key recycling, making it easier to crack. Alongside other security flaws and vulnerabilities, such as problematic authentication mechanisms, WEP is considered a risky choice for wireless security.
In 2001, cybersecurity experts identified severe vulnerabilities in WEP, prompting industry-wide recommendations to phase out its usage in both enterprise and consumer devices. After a significant cyber attack on T.J.Maxx in 2007 was traced back to vulnerabilities exposed by WEP, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard restricted retailers and other entities processing credit card data from using WEP.
How does WPA work?
The numerous vulnerabilities in WEP emphasized the urgent need for an alternative solution. However, the slow and meticulous process of developing a new security specification clashed with the immediacy of the situation. To address this issue, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced WPA as an interim standard in 2003, while IEEE focused on creating a more advanced, long-term substitute for WEP.
WPA features separate modes tailored for enterprise users and personal use. The enterprise mode, known as WPA-Extensible Authentication Protocol (WPA-EAP), employs stricter 802.1x authentication and mandates the use of an authentication server. The confidential mode, WPA-Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK), uses preshared keys for easier implementation and management, making it suitable for consumers and small offices. If you’re interested in expanding your networking knowledge, consider enrolling in a CCNA Course In Bangalore.
While WPA also utilizes RC4, it introduced various improvements to encryption, notably the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). TKIP includes the implementation of the following functions to enhance WLAN security:
– Usage of 256-bit keys
– Per-packet key mixing, generating a unique key for each packet
– Automatic broadcast of updated keys
– Message integrity check
– Larger IV size using 48 bits
– Mechanisms to decrease IV reuse
The Wi-Fi Alliance designed WPA to be backwards-compatible with WEP, facilitating a quick and straightforward adoption process. Network security professionals were able to support the new standard on many WEP-based devices through a simple firmware update. However, this approach also meant that the security provided by WPA was not as comprehensive as it could have been. If you’re interested in delving deeper into network security and enhancing your skills, consider enrolling in a Cyber Security Course in Chennai.
How does WPA2 work?
In 2004, IEEE approved the WPA2 standard, known as 802.11i, as the successor to WPA. Similar to its predecessor, WPA2 provides both enterprise and personal modes.
WPA2 replaces RC4 and TKIP with two more robust encryption and authentication mechanisms:
- Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which serves as an encryption mechanism, and
- Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP), which functions as an authentication mechanism.
WPA2 is designed to be backward-compatible and supports TKIP as a fallback if a device cannot support CCMP.
Originally developed by the U.S. government for safeguarding classified data, AES comprises three symmetric block ciphers. Each cipher encrypts and decrypts data in 128-bit blocks using 128, 192, and 256-bit keys. Although the use of AES demands more computing power from access points and clients, advancements in computer and network hardware have addressed performance concerns over time.
CCMP ensures data confidentiality by allowing only authorized network users to receive data. It employs cipher block chaining message authentication code to guarantee message integrity.
Additionally, WPA2 introduced more seamless roaming, enabling clients to transition from one access point to another within the same Wi-Fi network without needing to reauthenticate. This is made possible through Pairwise Master Key (PMK) caching or pre-authentication. If you’re interested in exploring the intricacies of Wi-Fi security and learning about advanced techniques, consider enrolling in an Ethical Hacking Course In Chennai.