Real 802.11 Security: Wi-Fi Protected Access and 802.11i
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Why This Book Now? Ask anyone with a computer whether they want to be protected against strangers reading their data or planting viruses. Not really worth the effort, is it? Everyone wants this type of protection. However, most Wi-Fi wireless LANs operating in 2003 have no effective security. In fact, so many Wi-Fi LANs operate without security that an entire new hobby, "war driving," has sprung up in which folks drive around detecting and connecting to unsuspecting networks for fun. There are Web sites that publish the location and details of unprotected networks that are found--there are bound to be some near you! This problem is the result of people being unaware of the danger, but you are different, right? The fact that you are reading this preface means that you are aware of the need to take active steps to implement security. Already, you may have implemented some security approach, perhaps as recommended by the supplier of the equipment you installed. Would that this were enough. The horrible truth is that the security systems shipped with Wi-Fi systems over the period from 1999 to 2002 are completely inadequate, some would say completely broken. Any computer-literate person can now download from the Internet tools that will attack and break into the first-generation Wi-Fi systems. This book will show you how to tip the balance back in your favor--how to establish real security within your Wi-Fi LAN. It is not just about configuring your computer correctly or choosing good passwords, although these things are important. There are many books that focus on "parameter setting." What we describe in this book is a whole new approach to wireless LAN security enabled by the recent development of new core technology for Wi-Fi. The new developments achieve what no amount of reconfiguration can do: they solve the problem at the source. In this book we show how the new approaches work and how they should be applied to maximum effect. Whether you are a system administrator or an advanced home user, this book will open your eyes to current weaknesses and practical, implementable solutions. To Wi-Fi or Not to Wi-Fi For many years, Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs were considered an interesting technology but not mainstream. This has changed. Now ordinary people and companies, not just technology addicts and experimenters in IT departments, see the practical benefits of this technology. There are two categories of users: business and home. Corporations set up Wi-Fi LANs to allow rapid network deployment, to reduce the cost of installing wiring, and to give workers more flexibility in where and when they work. Home users also want to avoid installing wiring and like the ability to use a laptop on the couch or in a comfy chair outside. System administrators have a big problem when it comes to Wi-Fi LANs. On the one hand they recognize the benefits of wireless both for their own configuration management and for users. On the other hand, they must not deploy anything that will be a serious security threat. We say "serious" because there is always some security risk in any technology deployment. The only truly secure network is no network. So system administrators have to choose between banning Wi-Fi networks or figuring out how to obtain the needed level of security. Experienced system administrators recognize that any new system component brings both benefits and risks. The problem with Wi-Fi up to now has been how to evaluate the risk. The Cavalry Is Here In 2001 those few who deployed security often relied on the original Wi-Fi security method, called WEP. Regrettably, and quite suddenly, it was discovered that WEP had major security flaws and, while arguably better than nothing, customers were left without effective protection. The result, in 2002, was an unparalleled effort on the part of the industry to devise a replacement for WEP, something that would be impregnable, but which could be used to upgrade the existing installed systems. In 2003 we see the results of this effort being deployed. The new solutions for Wi-Fi security are being delivered in two installments. The first installment is called Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), announced by the Wi-Fi Alliance at the end of 2002. WPA has been specifically designed to allow software upgrade of most existing Wi-Fi systems. It repairs all the security weaknesses found in older Wi-Fi systems and has been developed to provide system administrators with a solution to the security dilemma. In time WPA will be incorporated into a new version of the IEEE 802.11 standard (IEEE 802.11i) that is incomplete at the time of writing. This will provide a flexible and extremely secure solution for all future products. WPA offers levels of security much higher than previously available. The failure of WEP was a sharp wake-up call for the industry and the prevailing mood during 2002 was "we will never let this happen again." As a result, the best experts have participated in creating the new solution and the results have been reviewed worldwide prior to completion. Naturally, change brings questions: "Should I implement WPA now rather than wait for IEEE 802.11i?" "What do I do with my existing WEP equipment/Can I upgrade it?" "Is it now safe to put Wi-Fi inside the firewall?" These are the types of questions that this book answers. We could answer them right here: "yes," "yes," "yes," but our goal in writing is to ensure that you understand enough about the mechanics to answer these questions for yourself. In this book we look at security issues, protocols, and applications. An overview covers all the important protocols from IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.1X through to authentication protocols such as RADIUS and EAP. We cover the security protocols of WPA and IEEE 802.11i in detail. We also look at the real-world tools that have been used to attack Wi-Fi systems and you will learn why these will no longer be a threat. Audience This book is written principally for system administrators but will also be useful to technically oriented home users and design engineers. It focuses on why the new Wi-Fi security methods are secure and how they work. You will finish with an understanding of Wi-Fi security so you will know what you are doing, and why. The book does not flood you with pages of installation and configuration instructions for specific vendor equipment, as that information changes frequently and becomes obsolete. You should use this book alongside vendor documentation to create customized security solutions. System administrators have been badly burned in the past by assurances that Wi-Fi LANs had effective built in security, assurances that did not hold true over time. We feel that administrators will not want to take at face value statements like "the new WPA and IEEE 802.11i methods are completely secure." They should be able to see for themselves how the security methods are implemented and understand for themselves why the types of weakness that existed previously have been overcome. Only when this trust is reestablished can administrators continue deployment in comfort. This book attempts to provide all the information needed for this understanding. If you are a design engineer in any networking field, wireless or otherwise, you will find this book relevant. The security technologies incorporated into WPA and IEEE 802.11i are the state of the art for data networking, and it is much easier to learn and understand technology when it is described in the context of a real system. It seems likely that some of the techniques incorporated into the wireless LAN area will also be applied to wired LANs in the future. If you are just generally interested in the area, you will find lots of material describing the approach to security that is needed to provide a robust defense. You may choose to skip some of the chapters that describe the protocol and you will probably be surprised to see the real examples of hacking tools presented in the later chapters. We assume that you have a reasonable understanding of how computer networks operate. You don't need to be an expert, especially to understand the first part of the book, but we presume you know what a Wi-Fi access point does and how it is connected to the rest of the network. We don't explain terms like Ethernet or TCP/IP in detail. There is a primer on IEEE 802.11 if you are not familiar with the protocol used to communicate over the air. Organization This book is organized into three parts. Roughly speaking, these parts describe: Things you should know about security in general How both the old and new methods of security work in Wi-Fi networks Real-world issues and examples of attack tools that have been (and continue to be) used In Part I, "What Everyone Should Know," we review issues that everybody should know about security. Some of these issues are commonsense, but you may not have thought about them. If you are already a security expert and exploring how security works for Wi-Fi, consider skimming this material because many of the principles will be familiar. Part II, "The Design of Wi-Fi Security," starts with a primer on IEEE 802.11 that runs through the basics of Wi-Fi systems communication. It describes the types of messages that are exchanged, usually hidden from the end user, and explains how a portable device like a laptop can find, select, and connect to an access point. The primer contains a moderate, but hopefully not oppressive, amount of detail. You need to understand the messages being sent between the Wi-Fi components to appreciate the security risks. After the primer, the book delves into the security protocols for Wi-Fi. It describes the original Wi-Fi security approach, WEP, and explains why this method is no longer considered secure. It then covers the new approaches of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and IEEE 802.11i Robust Security Networks. Both the new methods share a common approach and are scalable from small networks of a few devices up to international corporations. The solution involves many pieces assembled in layers. This makes th...
From the Back Cover
"Real 802.11 Security provides clear descriptions of current and emerging security techniques. The authors handle complex topics nicely, and offer significant clarification of IEEE draft standards."
--Russ Housley, IETF Security Area Director and founder of Vigil Security, LLC
"This is certainly the definitive text on the internals of 802.11 security!"
--John Viega, founder and chief scientist, Secure Software, Inc.
"This book keeps the exposition as straightforward as possible and enables you to cut through the maze of acronyms, hacking tools, rumored weaknesses, and vague vendor security claims to make educated security decisions when purchasing or deploying WLAN."
--Simon Blake-Wilson, Director of Information Security, BCI
Business professionals and advanced home users are captivated by the convenience of working on wireless networks. But how can privacy and security be maintained effectively? Real 802.11 Security describes an entirely new approach to wireless LAN security based on the latest developments in Wi-Fi technology. This is the book that will show you how to establish real security within your Wi-Fi LAN.
Recent developments in Wi-Fi security achieve what no amount of reconfiguration can do: They solve the problem at the source. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) repairs weaknesses in existing Wi-Fi systems and is designed to allow software upgrades. The upcoming 802.11i standard will offer a much higher level of security than previously offered and will provide flexible, extremely secure solutions for future products.
Real 802.11 Security addresses the theory, implementations, and reality of Wi-Fi security. It provides an overview of security issues, explains how security works in Wi-Fi networks, and explores various security and authentication protocols. The book concludes with an in-depth discussion of real-world security issues and attack tools.
Written by two experts in wireless security, Jon Edney and William Arbaugh, this book shows you how to stay informed and aware when making security decisions, and what steps you can take to implement the most effective, proactive wireless security now and in the future.
Real 802.11 Security: Wi-Fi Protected Access and 802.11i,Jon Edney,William A. Arbaugh,Addison-Wesley Professional,0321136209,Computer Bks - General Information,Computer Books: General,Computer Data Security,Computers,IEEE 802.11 (Standard),Internet - General,Networking - Local Area Networks (LANs),Security - General,Security measures,Wireless LANs,Computers / Internet / Security
Real 802.11 Security: Wi-Fi Protected Access and 802.11i
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