More importantly, the more we forge into the future everything from our phones to our refrigerators relies on a wireless connection it becomes more and more important that we can keep our Wi-Fi secure and safe. Today, without this great invention called wireless internet, it would almost seem impossible to function. Everywhere, people are using Wi-Fi, be it for mere entertainment right down to accomplish their goals. After all, the convenience that came about by means of using the internet has a great hazard from behind every click or a hacker finding his way into some kind of security weakness and getting your private information.
Wi-Fi has become such an integral part of our everyday life, be it your smartphone or the smart home. So, this convenience happens to float on a sea of considerable security risks, mostly unseen. In this detailed guide, Alexander Ostrovskiy (cyber-ostrovskiy-alexander.co.uk) will try to take a closer look at the main aspects of Wi-Fi security: understanding protocols, best practices of implementation, and how to keep your network safe.
- Common Wi-Fi Security Protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3
Such WiFi security protocols have been invented against ever-sophisticated cyber threats:
- WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy, introduced in 1997 and now obsolete; insecure, can be cracked within minutes.
- WPA: Wi-Fi Protected Access, a temporary solution to fix the loopholes of WEP; it’s somewhat better in encryption, though still very faulty.
- WPA2: Initiated with robust AES encryption in 2004, still very prevalent, but it was prone to KRACK attacks.
- WPA3: Arrived in 2018, brings enhanced encryption, forward secrecy, and resistance to brute force.
- Anatomy of a WiFi Attack: Common Threats and Vulnerabilities
The general WiFi security threats are:
- Packet Sniffing: Attacker intercepts unencrypted data.
- Man-in-the-Middle MitM: A hacker inserts himself between the user and the network for interception purposes.
- Rogue Access Points: Unauthorized devices pose as your legitimate networks.
- Password Cracking: Brute-force or dictionary attacks find their way through a weak password.
- Secure the Router
Necessary Configuration Steps Hardening Your Router:
- Change the default usernames and password.
- Use the latest WPA3 encryption.
- Turn WPS off to avoid the threat of brute-force PIN attacks. Set up an admin interface that’s secured and opened only from within the LAN.
- Wi-Fi Password Management Practices
Setup intricate passwords-at least 12 letters, numbers, and symbols in the password-reissue them periodically. One should not share or reuse passwords between accounts.
- Guest Network – Configuration and Management
The guest network would segregate the guests from the main network. Advantages:
- There would be limited access to critical devices and information.
- Implementation: Guest network option in settings of most routers.
- Use strong passwords and different SSIDs.
- MAC Address Filtering: Pros and Cons
MAC address filtering allows access to only those devices whose access has been previously granted access to your network:
- Pros: An extra layer of security it provides.
- Cons: It is relatively very easy to get around by spoofing a MAC address, so this augments and doesn’t replace strong encryption.
- Network Encryption: Choosing the Right Protocol
Turn on the highest encryption your router supports:
- WPA2 or WPA3: The best encryption.
- WEP should not be used, even for legacy devices, due to known weaknesses.
- SSID Broadcasting: To Hide or Not to Hide?
Hiding your SSID will limit visibility but will not deter persistent hackers:
- Pros: The chances of casual Connect attempts are reduced.
- Cons: Hidden SSIDs are still found without much effort using packet sniffing tools.
- Firmware Updates and Router Maintenance
Firmware updates patch vulnerabilities on a regular basis, including performance enhancements.
Search for Updates: Check for updates from the manufacturer’s website or using router management utilities.
Enable Automatic Updates: If supported, enable it.
- Network Monitoring Tools and Techniques
Use network monitoring tools to trace anomalies.
Tools: Fing, Wireshark, and GlassWire are some of the real-time monitoring tools.
Alerts: Establish notifications when unauthorized connections or bandwidth spikes take place.
- Strategic Placement of Wireless Access Points and Management of Signals
Place them in a way that the risk is minimal and the performance is the best:
Central Location: It lessens dead zones and can limit the leakage of signals outside.
Weaker Signal Strength: This keeps the signals from penetrating out of your premises.
- Integrating VPN with Wi-Fi Networks
A VPN encrypts traffic, hence maintains privacy and security:
Implementation: Installation of VPN software on each and every device or configuration at the router level.
Advantages: Hides the IP address and encrypts each and every packet of data transferred via it.
- IoT Devices Security on Wi-Fi
The weakest point in a chain of Wi-Fi are the devices of IoT:
- Place all IoT devices on a guest network.
- Change the default credentials on IoT devices.
- Disable unrequired features on IoT such as remote access.
- Public Wi-Fi Security: Protecting Users and Infrastructure
Public Wi-Fi is famously insecure:
- For Users: Always use a VPN, disable auto-connect, and avoid accessing sensitive accounts.
- For Providers: WPA3 in implementation, segregation of guest networks, anomaly traffic inspection.
- Wi-Fi Security Auditing: Tools and Methods
- Regular audits help to find the loopholes and also to get rid of them.
- Penetration Testing: To test the defenses through a simulated attack.
- Auditing tools are Aircrack-ng, Kali Linux, and NetSpot.
Frequency: Quarterly or after some major changes are implemented on the network.
There are so many security software solutions that target consumers and enterprises that may be implemented to ensure that wireless networks and Wi-Fi devices – routers, switches, controllers, and access points – are secure. Many of these solutions are downloadable onto WLANs and/or mobile devices.
Some of the newer software solutions developed for Wi-Fi security have been integrated into the backbone of the internet and distributed across cloud platforms. They have given a first layer of protection against breaches of the wireless network by keeping users from sites that are deemed malicious.
Final Words
You are to decide what kind of network security would be useful for your home wireless network. Here, WPA2-PSK is being suggested for implementation in home wireless because WPA2-Enterprise actually requires the organization and university for heavy traffic.
The more knowledgeable you are about the type of threat, coupled with the necessary application of security measures, will put you in a better position to make the Wi-Fi network safe and a reliable basis for all digital connectivity.
