Wireless LAN: Advantages, Disadvantages, Security and Difference between WEP and WPA?

 Wireless LAN

Wireless LAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network or simply called as Local Area Wireless Network. WLAN is a network in which a mobile user can connect to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a wireless network or connection.

The IEEE 802.11 group of standards defines the technologies and standards for wireless LAN and for other wireless network protocols. For path sharing, 802.11 standard uses the Ethernet protocol and CSMA/CA (carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance). It also uses an encryption method i.e., wired equivalent privacy (WEP) algorithm.

Wireless LANs use high frequency radio signals or lasers beams to communicate between the workstations, access point, servers, or hubs. Each workstation or server connected on a wireless network has some sort of transceiver/antenna to send and receive the data. Information is relayed between transceivers as if they were physically connected. Wireless communication is used for communicating at a long distance using either a cellular network or by satellite communication.

Wireless networks are widely used in laptop computers, portable devices, or remote computers to connect to the LAN. It is used in office or building where installing cables is a hectic task.

The two most common types of infrared communications used in schools are line-of-sight and scattered broadcast. Line-of-sight communication means that access point or service providing device is in direct line of sight with mobile user or receiving device. Scattered infrared communication is a broadcasting technique in which transmissions sent out in multiple directions that bounces off walls and ceilings until it each receiver.

Wireless Standards and Speed:

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit organization that helps to ensure standards and interoperability for wireless networks often referred to as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). The original Wi-Fi standard was adopted in 1997 and since then there are many modifications are done to increase the transmission speed and for easy connection setup. Wi-Fi networks use the Ethernet protocol.

Standard	Max. Speed	Modulation Scheme	Frequency (GHz)	Range (Outdoor)
802.11a	54 MHz	DSSS	5	390 feet
802.11b	11 MHz	OFDM	2.4	460 feet
802.11g	54 MHz	OFDM	2.4	460 feet
802.11n	600 MHz	MIMO-OFDM	2.4/5	820 feet
802.11ac	3.466 GHz	MIMO-OFDM	5	115 feet (Indoor)

 

Wireless Security:

Wireless Security is the prevention of unauthorized access or damage to the internet using wireless network. Wireless network is much more susceptible to unauthorized access or use than cabled networks. The most common terms used in wireless network for defining the protection of any wireless network is in terms of confidential, integrity and availability.  Wireless network devices use radio waves to communicate with each other. The greatest vulnerability to the network is that rogue machines can do eavesdropping on the radio wave communications. Unencrypted information transmitted can be monitored by a third-party which is available with the downloaded tools can quickly gain access to your entire network, steal valuable passwords to local servers and online services, alter or destroy data, and/or access personal and confidential information stored in your network servers. To minimize the possibility of this, all modern access points and devices have configuration options to encrypt transmissions. These encryption methodologies are still evolving, as are the tools used by malicious hackers, so always use the strongest encryption available in your access point and connecting devices. The most common type is Wi-Fi security, which includes Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP):

Wired Equivalent Privacy is a security algorithm for IEEE 802.11 wireless networks which is intended for providing data confidentiality to the network. WEP uses the stream cipher RC4 for providing confidentiality and cyclic redundancy check (CRC)-32 checksum for integrity. The Standard 64-bit WEP uses a 40-bit key which is concatenate with 24 bit initialization vector (IV) to form the RC4 key, latter 64-bit WEP is extended to 128-bit WEP protocol using a 104-bit key size.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA):

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2), and Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) are the three security and security certification programs developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless computer networks. WPA was developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to provide more sophisticated data encryption and better user authentication than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).  it uses Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) and Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) for encryption. WPA key is 256-bits key.

Difference between WEP and WPA:

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)	Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
It uses 40 bits key and 24-bits initialization vector.	WPA key is 256-bits key.
It is a security protocol for wireless networks which provides data confidentiality comparable to a traditional wired network.	It is a security protocol which is used in securing wireless networks and designed to replace the WEP protocol.
It provides wireless security using encryption key.	It provides wireless security through the use of a password.
Encryption method used is Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4).	Encryption method is Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) and Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP).
Authentication method in WEP is Open system authentication or shared key authentication.	Authentication method in WPA is WPA-PSK and WPA-Enterprise.
Data Integrity is provided through CRC 32.	Data Integrity is provided through Message Integrity code.
Key Management is not provided in WEP.	Key Management is provided through 4-way handshaking mechanism.
In WEP, no protection against reply attacks.	In WPA, sequence counter is implemented for reply protection.

 

Advantages of Wireless Network:

Mobility – A Wireless network can be access anywhere using the hotspot or using Wi-Fi router.

Fast setup – If your computer has wireless adapter installed in it, you can access or connect to Wi-Fi by clicking on “Connect to the Network” and set as connected automatically for the future.

Cost - Setting up a wireless network can be much more cost effective than buying and installing cables.

Expandability - Adding new computers to a wireless network is as easy step (as long as you do not exceed the maximum number of devices).

Disadvantages of Wireless Network:

Security - Be careful. Be vigilant. Protect your sensitive data with backups, isolated private networks, strong encryption and passwords, and monitor network access traffic to and from your wireless network.

Interference - Wireless networks use radio signals and similar techniques for transmission as they are susceptible to interference from lights and electronic devices.

Inconsistent connections - "Wait a minute, I just lost my connection?" is a problem when your connecting device is setup in crowded place. Because of the interference caused by electrical devices and/or items blocking the path of transmission, wireless connections are not nearly as stable as those through a dedicated cable.

Speed - The transmission speed of wireless networks is improving as the technology is improving. If you are only using wireless for internet access, the actual internet connection for your home or school is generally slower than the wireless network devices. It became a bottleneck for your connection setup.