Wireless networks extend your attack surface beyond physical boundaries. Attackers sitting in car parks can probe your wireless infrastructure. Securing wireless requires more than enabling encryption and hiding your network name.
WPA3 provides stronger encryption than its predecessors. Organisations that haven’t upgraded from WPA2 remain vulnerable to dictionary attacks against weak passwords. Those still running WPA or WEP might as well broadcast their data in plaintext.
Hidden SSIDs provide no real security. Network names disappear from casual view, but wireless sniffers reveal hidden networks immediately. Relying on SSID hiding demonstrates security through obscurity, which isn’t security at all.
Guest networks require proper isolation. Providing wireless access to visitors makes sense. Allowing those visitors onto your internal network does not. Guest networks need complete segregation, with internet-only access and no routes to internal resources. Professional external network penetration testing examines whether guest network isolation actually prevents access to internal systems.
Rogue access points bypass your security controls entirely. Employees or attackers install unauthorised wireless access points connected to your internal network. These rogue APs typically lack security controls, providing easy access for attackers.
William Fieldhouse, Director of Aardwolf Security Ltd, observes: “Wireless security demands continuous monitoring. Rogue access points, evil twin attacks, and client misconfiguration all create risks. Regular wireless site surveys detect unauthorised devices and assess signal coverage.”
Evil twin attacks impersonate legitimate wireless networks. Attackers broadcast SSIDs matching your corporate network, often with stronger signals. Clients automatically connect, and attackers intercept all traffic passing through their fake access point.
MAC address filtering provides minimal protection. Attackers observe authorised MAC addresses through wireless sniffing, then spoof those addresses on their own devices. MAC filtering creates management overhead without meaningful security benefits.
Certificate-based authentication offers stronger security than password-based approaches. 802.1X with digital certificates ensures both the network and client authenticate each other. Implementation complexity often deters organisations from deploying certificate-based wireless security.
Wireless intrusion prevention systems detect and respond to attacks. These systems monitor wireless spectrum, identifying rogue access points, deauthentication attacks, and suspicious client behaviour. Automated response capabilities can block attacking devices.
Signal strength and coverage require careful planning. Weak signals force clients to use lower data rates and weaker encryption. Excessive signal coverage extends your network beyond your physical perimeter, allowing attacks from greater distances. Working with the best penetration testing company ensures comprehensive wireless security assessment including physical security considerations.
Client security matters as much as access point security. Compromised wireless clients can attack other devices on the wireless network. Endpoint security, network segmentation, and monitoring protect against lateral movement from compromised wireless devices.
