Cisco Networking Simplified, Second Edition

Chapter . Securing Wireless Networks

Locking Down Wireless

For every networking innovation, there is a hacker looking to exploit it. The advent of wireless networking was no different; in fact, the hackers had a field day with this one early on. The reason is that before wireless, hackers had only two ways to get into a network: They could either penetrate it from the Internet or could get physical access to a live switch port inside the network.

Despite all the news about hacking, breaching a corporate network from the Internet is extremely difficult. This method provides a lot of anonymity (always a plus when breaking the law). If someone can get access to the switch port, the technical stuff is easy. There is, of course, the matter of being caught ...