ITC595 Information Security

Introduction

Wireless is an advanced technology of wired and it reduced many drawbacks of such as long distance communication and flexibility. The main strength of this network system is that it can be used for long distance interaction purpose and people can communicate with peripheral devices (Garg, 2011). Between 2000 and 2017, various kinds of wireless network protocols are developed, for example, Wi-FI, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and LTE. The overall band spectrums of wireless networks are very large rather than other network devices. In this modern generation, many organizations and communities use wireless protocols to share data files from one device to another (Burbank, 2008). This report is explaining various challenges and issues occur in wireless networks and methods to avoid this problem.

Overview of Wireless network security

Security of wireless network is defined as a process of implementing and designing of security plans for computer systems. It is a platform where any person can improve the security of their wireless devices. It is observed that in wireless networks signal or information can be easily hacked by attacker and they use complex algorithm process to block user personal server. In this type of system data signals transmitted into free space by which attackers can easily capture these signals and they can encrypt our personal information (Burbank, 2008). There are main two security systems which can be used to avoid threats and risks of wireless network security, for example, WEP (wired equivalent policy) and WPA (wireless protected access). Wireless networking system is also called the remote system in which signal or information is transmitted from transmitter to receiver without using any connecting wires.

Therefore this process can be used to share data over long distance and in which both transmitter and receiver have used the concept of the wireless system. In the last few years, the problem of security in wireless devices is growing very fast and hackers can easily enter into user peripheral devices by which many organizations are suffering from the issue of cyber-crimes. WLAN, WMAN, WPAN, and WWAN all these are wireless components by which any person can send and receive their data files from one device to another peripheral device. 

Technologies used in Wireless network security

Wireless local area network

WLAN is a type of wireless network which is used to share data from one computer devices to another and it utilizes high radio frequency waves. This type of network can be used for small office or organization because the range of frequency is very low for WLAN (Tuna, et al., 2017). Therefore the main drawback of this network is that it cannot be used for long distance data sharing a purpose. There are much applications of this type of system, for example, network managers in other building, conducting everyday business, in healthcare systems.

Access point

The access point is defined as a hardware system which is used in wireless communication and it allows many wireless network devices, for example, mobile computers, and PDAs. In this type of technology AP connected with a wired network after that signal transferred from one device to another by using wireless data-links (Sharma, & Rawat, 2015).

Wired equivalent privacy (WEP)

It is defined as a security process for IEEE 802.11 wireless system and the main objective of this system is to deliver data confidentially as compare to the wired network. This is one of the first choices to secure wireless networks and it provide router configuration tool by which people can enhance their personal data securities. In the year 2004, IEEE announced WEP-40 and WEP- 104 and it is only one encryption network which is available for both 802.11a and 802.11b. WEP uses the fundamental concept of encryption technique by which users can reduce cyber-attacks and security risks of wireless networks (Papp, Ma, & Buttyan, 2015).

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

It is a type of security system for wireless network and it also used to reduce drawbacks of WEP security protocols. This type of security system was developed by Wi-Fi alliance to reduce security threats and risks of wireless networks. The main advantages of this algorithm process are that it delivers more sophisticated information encryption and also produces better authentication process (Trappe, 2015). It involves the TKIP method to encrypt input signals and TKIP involves per-packet function and re-keying process. WPA is totally depended upon the central authentication system for example RADIUS which is used to authenticate every user. 

Challenges and issues faced in wireless networks

There are various kinds of challenges and threats occur in wireless network securities which are following

• Rogue Access Points/Ad-Hoc Networks
• Denial of Service
• Configuration Problems (Mis-Configurations/Incomplete Configurations)
• Passive Capturing (Chen, Qin, Hu, Li, & Chen, 2016).

Rogue Access Points/Ad-Hoc Networks

It is one of the common processes which are used by many hackers and they attack in wireless networks by using rogue access points. In which attackers first identify basic configuration and physical data of any server and after that, they enter into human personal systems (Jing, Vasilakos, Wan, Lu, & Qiu, 2014). When any person communicated with rogue access system then he is not able to perform any task an attacker can control and monitor their personal peripheral devices. Sometimes attackers are not able to unlock access points and the ad-hoc system then they use legitimate algorithm by which they can easily enter into human personal computer systems. After that, they encrypt or block all personal data files and demand money to restore back their information’s.

Denial of Service

DOS is a type of security problem for any wireless device and it is growing very fast in the last few years. Denial of service is a very simple process which required little access to hack server of any user. This type of problem can be easily done by sharing a large amount of traffic signal into the particular server and in which people can lose their personal data or information. DOS uses flooding process to hack or encrypt data of any user and for a wireless network; it is very easy to attack user authentic servers Garcia (Lopez, et al., 2015).

Configuration Problems

Simple and easy configuration problem increase many security risks and threat by which attackers can easily lock their personal accounts. Security risks in wireless networks improved because there are many users which are using simple passwords system and unauthentic access by which any person can easily enter into their servers (Zhu, Zou, & Zheng, 2017). It is observed that they also open their private networks for external work without any configuration and weak passphrases, weak security system like WEP, WPA, and SSID all these are simple configuration process.

Passive Capturing

It is performed by basically getting inside the scope of an objective remote LAN and after that tuning in and catching information. This data can be utilized for various things including endeavoring to break existing security settings and examining non-anchored activity. It is relatively difficult to truly keep this sort of assault in view of the idea of a remote system; what should be possible is to actualize high-security norms utilizing complex parameters (Zhu, et al., 2017).

Gaps in the literature

There are many authors that are researched on the wireless network and they investigated that this type of systems are formulated through various components like multi-hop backbone, and access points (Yaqoob, et al., 2017). It is observed that the multi-hop communication system produces various kinds of security threats in wireless networks, for example, DOS, DDOS, and eavesdropping. All these threats increase four common security problems in WLAN such as authentication, integrity, confidentiality, and availability (Sajid, Abbas, & Saleem, 2016). In this modern generation authentication and availability, both can be reduced by WPE and WPA system. Therefore in last few years, all these issues have been addressed and many security plans are developed like cryptography and encryption method by which people can avoid these type common problems (Han, Gopalakrishnan, Ji, & Lee, 2015). In a multi-hop work spine, three security dangers that may prompt unapproved get to include: War Drivers, Hackers and DoS Attacks (Atat, et al., 2017). In the first place, war drivers include utilizing an examining gadget to find mobile phone individuals to misuse. Second, hacking is the place a malignant interloper search for shortcomings in WMN security frameworks to misuse e.g. a client may guiltlessly introduce APs planned for home use on the venture system and wind up making a security opening in the system e.g. the man-in-the center (MITM) assault in which the aggressor chooses a host target and position him/herself coherently between the objective or switch or door of the objective (Dabbagh, Hamdaoui, Guizani, & Rayes, 2015). Therefore in this modern generation, many people use wireless network devices and many users use a simple configuration system which can be easily hacked by attackers. DOS, data breach and DDOS both are very important and common issue in any wireless network and it is increased rapidly in the last few years (Xu, Zheng, Saad, & Han, 2016). All these problems have not been addressed and in which hackers use flooding process by which they can encrypt user personal information. However, people can adopt various kinds of the security system, for example, firewall, and cloud computing, data encryption technique, pattern recognition, and cryptography technology. By using this type of programmes users can secure their personal information and people should use authentic websites and access point by which they can avoid data breach problem (Zhu, et al., 2017).

Methods to avoid security problems in wireless networks

The wireless network is the latest communication technology that improved the reliability and flexibility of sensors networks. It is identified that security is one of the common problems for every wireless device and many organization developed their policies or strategies by which people can secure their network devices (Zhu, et al., 2017). There are few steps by which users can avoid DOS, data breach and other threats into a wireless network which are following

• By changing default SSID
• Use of VPN networks
• Use of static IP
• Reduce radio wave propagation in non- user areas
• Use of firewall software
• Adopt encryption methods to avoid security risks
• Use of pattern recognition and cryptography
• Always utilize authentic websites and servers
• Keep secure personal data files through cloud computing services (Zhu, et al., 2017).

Advantages of Wireless networks

• More flexible and reliable
• Increased performance of the communication system
• Better mobility
• Cost-effective
• Hotspot and VOIP facility

Disadvantages of wireless networks

• Lesser range
• Security issues
• Slow in speed
• Increased security threats and risks
• Lesser control
• Data can be lost (Zhu, et al., 2017).

Future research

In this present generation, various kinds of wireless networks developed, for example, Wi-Fi, LTE, Zigbee, and IoT. In this report, we discussed challenges and threats faced in wireless networks and many people are facing this type of problems (Zhu, et al., 2017). IoT is an advanced wireless technology that reduced many security problems but at that time it is not a popular innovation. In the future, this technology will avoid DOS and data breach problems and people can communicate from peripheral devices. We will evaluate various security programmes in the future and people can secure their personal data or information.

Conclusion

Any wireless network use transmitter and receiver resources for communication and it does not require any data links or cables to transfer data from the transmitter antenna to the receiver. Therefore this is one of the best strength of this network device and users can send and receive signals over a long distance. This report described the fundamental working principle of wireless networks and their security threat/issues. There are various types of security plans developed for wireless networks, for example, an encryption technique, cryptography process, pattern recognition, and firewall software by which users can enhance the security of their network devices. Therefore, it is observed that denial of services is one of the important security challenges in wireless devices and it uses flooding process by which hackers enter into user personal servers. This report is completely based on security problems in wireless devices and people should protect their personal servers and networks by adopting firewall software.

References

Atat, R., Liu, L., Chen, H., Wu, J., Li, H., & Yi, Y. (2017). Enabling cyber-physical communication in 5g cellular networks: challenges, spatial spectrum sensing, and cyber-security. IET Cyber-Physical Systems: Theory & Applications, 2(1), 49-54.

Burbank, J. L. (2008). Security in cognitive radio networks: The required evolution in approaches to wireless network security. In Cognitive Radio Oriented Wireless Networks and Communications, 2008. CrownCom 2008. 3rd International Conference on, 14(2), pp. 1-7.

Chen, S., Qin, F., Hu, B., Li, X., & Chen, Z. (2016). User-centric ultra-dense networks for 5G: challenges, methodologies, and directions. IEEE Wireless Communications, 23(2), 78-85.

Dabbagh, M., Hamdaoui, B., Guizani, M., & Rayes, A. (2015). Software-defined networking security: pros and cons. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(6), 73-79.

Garcia Lopez, P., Montresor, A., Epema, D., Datta, A., Higashino, T., Iamnitchi, A., ... & Riviere, E. (2015). Edge-centric computing: Vision and challenges. ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, 45(5), 37-42.

Garg, S. K. (2011). Wireless Network Security Threats. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 1(2), 110.

Han, B., Gopalakrishnan, V., Ji, L., & Lee, S. (2015). Network function virtualization: Challenges and opportunities for innovations. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(2), 90-97.

Jing, Q., Vasilakos, A. V., Wan, J., Lu, J., & Qiu, D. (2014). Security of the Internet of Things: perspectives and challenges. Wireless Networks, 20(8), 2481-2501.

Papp, D., Ma, Z., & Buttyan, L. (2015, July). Embedded systems security: Threats, vulnerabilities, and attack taxonomy. In Privacy, Security and Trust (PST), 2015 13th Annual Conference on, 15(6), pp. 145-152.

Sajid, A., Abbas, H., & Saleem, K. (2016). Cloud-assisted IoT-based SCADA systems security: A review of the state of the art and future challenges. IEEE Access, 4, 1375-1384.

Sharma, R. K., & Rawat, D. B. (2015). Advances in security threats and countermeasures for cognitive radio networks: A survey. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 17(2), 1023-1043.

Trappe, W. (2015). The challenges facing physical layer security. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(6), 16-20.

Tuna, G., Kogias, D. G., Gungor, V. C., Gezer, C., Ta?k?n, E., & Ayday, E. (2017). A survey on information security threats and solutions for Machine to Machine (M2M) communications. Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing, 109, 142-154.

Xu, Q., Zheng, R., Saad, W., & Han, Z. (2016). Device fingerprinting in wireless networks: Challenges and opportunities. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 18(1), 94-104.

Yaqoob, I., Ahmed, E., Hashem, I. A. T., Ahmed, A. I. A., Gani, A., Imran, M., & Guizani, M. (2017). Internet of things architecture: Recent advances, taxonomy, requirements, and open challenges. IEEE wireless communications, 24(3), 10-16.

Zhu, J., Zou, Y., & Zheng, B. (2017). Physical-layer security and reliability challenges for industrial wireless sensor networks. IEEE Access, 5, 5313-5320.