SECURITY ANALYSIS IN WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK
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Study Level: BTech, BSc, BEng, BA, HND, ND or NCE
Amount: ₦3,000.00
ABSTRACT
The Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) security is an important topic especially in the corporate networks. This project provides an analysis of a different security technologies for WLANs, which include WEP, WAP, WAP2, VPN and 802.1x. Based on the analysis provided for the proposals for the security settings in WLANs. With advancement in technology, coupled with increasing price and performance advantages, wireless accessibility is being deployed increasingly in public environmentsandoffices. This paper will discusses the security threats and the variety of risks associated with wireless networks, and also outlines a number of best practices for deploying wireless networks in a corporate organization and home environments. Finally, a set of security tips is provided for end-users surfing the Internet using public wireless networks. Wireless local area networks (WLAN) are beginning to play a much larger role in corporate network environments and are already popular for home networking applications. This increase in accessibility has eventually created large security holes for the hackers and the thieves to abuse, but has finally being addressed by stronger security mechanisms such as advanced encryption algorithms and efficient authentication processes. However, these security methods often hamper network performance which is being negligible to the engineers and users.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
List of Figures vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
- Background of the Study 1
- Problem Statement 1
- Aim and Objectives 2
- Significance of Study 2
- Scope of Study 3
- Methodology 3
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 4
2.1 Wireless Local Area Network 5
2.2 Type of Wireless Network 7
2.3 Challenges in Setting up Wireless LAN 8
2.4 Wireless Networking Standards 10
2.5 Security Threats of WLAN 11
2.6 Review of some Related Literatures 13
2.7 Risks and Vulnerabilities of Wireless LANs 15
2.8 Intrusion Methods Used By Hackers 17
2.9 Definition of Term 18
2.10 Discussion And Analysis On The Proposed Wlan Security Protocol
(WPA2) 19
2.11 WPA2 Features and Benefits 19
2.12 Protection from Network Attacks with WPA2 20
2.13 Enterprise Mode Components for a Secure Environment 20
2.14 How WPA2 Authentication Works 20
2.15 How WPA2 Encryption with AES Works 24
2.16 Analysis on AES Encryption 24
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 25
3.1 Introduction 25
3.2 Software Tool for the Hacking 25
3.3 Steps for WPA Successful Hacking 26
3.4 Simulation Instance To Show That Wpa2 Is Better. 29
3.5 AES Encryption Method 33
3.6 Wpa2 Algorithm. 39
3.7 How Is User Access Controlled After Authentication 40
3.8 Steps and Tools for WPA2 Deployment 40
CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 41
4.1 Introduction 41
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 49
5.1 Conclusion 49
- Recommendation 50
References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
In today’s era, everyone wants their necessary data to be handy, portable and accessible from almost every place they visit throughout the day and this is made possible by using wireless networks. Wireless networks, as the name suggests, are those networks that are not connected by any physical means such as Ethernet cables and thus provide the user with great mobility and convenience. Also, it saves one from the expenses on the cables that would be required if wired network is chosen as well as makes it easier for moving the base of the devices from location to another by just moving the machine along with the wireless network card. Wireless local area network (WLAN) has been so widely used in many sectors in the world. It gained popularity due to many reasons, such as installation flexibility, ease of installation, reduced cost-of-ownership, mobility, and scalability. However, regardless of those benefits, WLAN also have some security threats. This paper begins by introducing the concept of WLAN. The introductory section of this project gives brief information on the WLAN components and its architecture.
- Problem Statement
Wireless LAN communications are not private channels. Thus, anyone can access the public domain channel. They are easily susceptible to hackers trying to access sensitive information. Whereas, mischievous person can use a wireless client to insert bogus packets into the wireless LAN with the intent of keeping users from getting access to services. There is also a scenario where there will be a Passive attacks to decrypt traffic based on known plaintext and chosen cipher text attacks. A case where the intruder floods the network with either valid or invalid messages affecting the availability of the network resources. Eavesdropping by the third parties is the most significant threat because the attacker can intercept the transmission over the air from a distance, away from the premise. Another security problem is to inject new traffic from unauthorized mobile stations. Due to the nature of the radio transmission, the WLAN are very vulnerable against denial of service attacks. However, an attacks to decrypt traffic, based on tricking the access point into redirecting wireless traffic to an attacker’s machine is another security issue in wireless LAN.Another attack is modifying the original data before getting to the intended user. Wireless LANs intentionally radiates network traffic into space, This makes it impossible to control who can receive the signals in any wireless LAN installation. Also, since it is a public channel, it is difficult to manage the access and thus the potential is present for users to interfere with each other.
- Aim and ObjectivesAim
The aim of this project is to analysethe security mechanisms in wireless local area network in detail.
1.3.2 Objectives of the Study
- To discuss the variety components of wireless local area network.
- To discuss the various security protocols being used by wireless LAN.
- To design a simple but effective wireless network to simulate how the packets move about the network, and to show various security settings of the network.
- To show the vulnerability of the existing wireless protocols.
- To make a full research on how encryption and decryption of data works, especially on advance encryption system.(AES)
- To suggest a better security mechanism and management techniques for a secured
effective and efficient communication, from the wireless network.- Significance of Study
This research endevours the use of effective and secured wireless network, this way, many researchers and students all over the world working endlessly in other make wireless LAN to be secure for public and private use, like homes, schools, airports, business offices, government buildings, military facilities, coffee shops, book stores, as well as many other venues. One of the primary advantages offered by WLAN is its ability to provide connectivity to portable devices, such as wireless laptops and smart phones. However, using wireless network without the knowledge of how its security work is like walking half-naked, therefore, this research bring about the effectiveness and benefit of security in wireless LAN to the people so they can use the wireless LAN safely and secured anywhere.
- Scope of Study
The scope of this research is limited to the study of security settings in wireless local area network protocols which are WEP, WPA and WPA2, due to the constraint of time, the research should have go broader to study other wireless network protocols like CHAP, PAP, VPN etc.
1.6 Methodology
1. This research endeavor the use of an efficient, effective, and secure wireless communication in an organization network:
2. Implementing and simulating of wireless LAN protocols using packet tracer to show the security settings of the existing and the suggested wireless security mechanisms/protocol.
3. Showing the vulnerability/weakness of the existing wireless protocols by hacking it with some simple software in other to generate its pass phrase. By:
(i) Using a laptop to which CommView for WiFi is installed to access services at the AP within wireless coverage range and capture all the packets receive and sent in that particular AP.
(ii) using Aircrack-ng software tool to analyze the data collected from the AP and perform some technical steps so as to generate the phassphrase configured in the AP.
(iii) A better up design and security mechanism have been suggested for enhancement of the wireless network security which suite other wireless installations.
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