Hi everyone, welcome to the wifi hacking for beginners series. In this comprehensive post, we will cover the fundamentals, including installing the program, understanding its basic functions, and being aware of some crucial wifi facts and technological information. Without further ado, let us get going.
What is Wifi ? The Wifi Technology
Similar to how radios, televisions, and cell phones function, wireless networks also employ radio waves. Actually, two-way radio communication and communication over a wi-fi network are very similar. This is what takes place:
- Data is converted into a radio signal by a computer’s wireless adapter, which then sends it via an antenna.
- The signal is received by a wireless router, which decodes it. Through a physical, wired Ethernet connection, the router transmits the data to the internet.
Your devices and personal information can be vulnerable to hackers, cyber-attacks, and other dangers since they connect with one other across airwaves. This is particularly valid while using public Wi-Fi networks in businesses like coffee shops and airports.
How Does Wifi Work ?
Wi-Fi transmits networks via electromagnetic waves. These WiFi frequencies are divided into several channels in order to reduce congestion and interference.
Wifi uses radio waves, which are among all electromagnetic waves, to send data over frequencies between your device and the router. Either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency is used, depending on the data being delivered. The amount of data transmitted per second increases with frequency.
Components of Wifi Transmission ?
Ethernet(802.3) connection/ Base station
This is the primary host network that connects the router to the network. It specifies the data link layer’s media access control (MAC) and physical characteristics for wired Ethernet networks.
Access point
In order for devices to connect to the internet or a local network, an access point is an essential part of wireless networks. In essence, it is a gadget that acts as a gateway to a network, allowing devices to communicate with one another and exchange data.
Accessing devices
These are the actual hardware items that have WiFi enabled and are used for internet browsing.
What Are Wifi Standards ?
The major categories of WiFi standards are six. From 1997 until 2021, these are the Wi-Fi standards that changed. IEEE produced a single standard in 1997 and called it 802.11.
IEEE 802.11 –
Wi-Fi, or IEEE 802.11, is a set of wireless networking standards. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created it, and it outlines the technology and protocols used in wireless local area networks.It was created in 1997. About 2 Mbps (2 megabits per second) is the speed.
IEEE 802.11a –
1999 saw the development of this standard.For business and industry, 802.11a is beneficial, the frequency it operates on is 5 GHz. 802.11a can transmit data at up to 54 Mbps maximum. With other devices using the 2.4 GHz band in mind, this standard was created to prevent interference.
IEEE 802.11b –
A wireless networking protocol called EEE 802.11b uses the 2.4 GHz frequency range. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) designed it, and it was made available in 1999. With a maximum distance of 140 feet, this standard offers a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 11 Mbps.
IEEE 802.11g –
It is an improvement over 802.11a and 802.11b standards that was released in 2003 and provides wireless local area network (WLAN) rates of up to 54 Mbps.
IEEE 802.11ac –
A wireless networking standard that uses the 5 GHz frequency range is IEEE 802.11ac. It is a wireless local area network with fast speed.
IEEE 802.11ax –
The newest Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11ax, is intended to increase efficiency and performance in crowded areas. Wi-Fi 6 (or 802.11ax) was released in 2019 and promises better connectivity, quicker data transfer speeds, and more bandwidth.
Existing security protocols for WiFi
The purpose of WiFi security protocols is to protect against data breaches and unwanted access to wireless networks. The most widely utilised protocols consist of:
WEP
Wired Equivalent Privacy, or “WEP,” is an outdated encryption technique that is used to protect wireless networks. Due to security flaws, it was discontinued after being released in the early 2000s. The wep protocol is no longer advised for use since it is unsecure and readily cracked. If you want to secure your wireless network, you should think about using WPA2 (or WPA3, if it is available).
WPA2
Nowadays, WPA2 personal or enterprise is the most widely used security protocol, being used by nearly all wireless networks. Based on the ISO/IEC 15291 standard, it is a kind of WiFi Protected Access protocol.
The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is used by WPA2 to encrypt data, guaranteeing the privacy and security of your online activity. Although it has flaws, the protocol is thought to be secure. A security vulnerability that impacts all WPA2-enabled devices was identified in 2017 and is referred to as KRACK (Key Reinstallation Attack).
WPA3
The Wi-Fi Alliance released WPA3, the most recent wireless security standard, for use on Wi-Fi networks in 2019. When it comes to security aspects, it is superior to WPA2 and WPA. One of the main improvements of WPA3 is that each connected device has unique data encryption, which makes it harder for hackers to intercept private data.WPA3 offers enhanced defence against brute-force and offline dictionary attacks.
