3.3 Wireless Networking

Question 1

What is good about wireless networking? [4]

Answer 1

• (doesn’t cost anything) -don’t have to buy a bandwidth license.
• LANs can be set up without cabling.
• Wi-Fi can support roaming between access points so people can automatically switch between routers.
• Setup costs are minimal (and there are various affordable options on the market.

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of Wireless networking?

Answer 2

• Interference (sometimes steel can cause blockages)
• Limited Range (depending on routers)
• WEP - not very difficult to hack encryption.
• Access points can be used to steal data.
• Health concerns (people believe it can cause cancer or ruin sleep patterns.

Question 3

When should you use wireless networking?

Answer 3

Singular building not across buildings e.g. office building.

Question 4

What is wi-fi?

Answer 4

• Also called wireless LAN (WLAN)
• Used to connect wirelessly to a home network

Question 5

When is often wifi used?

Answer 5

Most preferred network for homes

Question 6

What is good about wifi?

Answer 6

Backwards Compatible with most older Wi-Fi standards.

Question 7

What is bad about wifi?

Answer 7

Small transmitting radius.

Question 8

What is WiMax? [1]

Answer 8

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

Question 9

And why do people use wiMax? [3]

Answer 9

• Designed for large distance high speed.
• Relatively cheap method, suited for poorer countries.
• Can be used as a wireless variant of DSL phone transmission lines.

Question 10

What is 3G?

Answer 10

Primary way to access internet using mobile phones.

Question 11

Why is 3G good?

Answer 11

• Allows the tunnelling of phone lines. (Don’t have to switch back to phone network to receive a call)
• Fast.

Question 12

What is the parts of Wireless security?

Answer 12

CIA Triad
1. Confidentiality
2. Integrity
3. Avalibality

Question 13

Why are security systems hard? [4]

Answer 13

• Cannot plan for every eventuality
• The “arms race”
• Systems can unravel from a weak point.
• Users messing it up.

Question 14

What is the three types of authentication?

Answer 14

• One factor authentication. - something you know (password)
• Two factor authentication. - something you have (card) + above
• Three factor authentication. - something you are (finger print) + above + above

Question 15

What are firewalls and what do they do?

Answer 15

• Hardware or Software (or hybrid)
• Controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.
• Analyse data packets based on pre-determined yes and nos.

Question 16

What is a MAC address?

Answer 16

Media Access Control
Used to identify hardware

Question 17

Examples of physical security?

Answer 17

• Locked doors
• Security personnel
• Cages / sealed units
• Reinforced / secure rooms
• Walls with barbed wire
• Guard dogs?

Question 18

Advantages of UserID [2]

Answer 18

• Access rights can be set for each user.
• User groups can be created to manage rights in batches.

Question 19

Disadvantages of UserID

Answer 19

• UserID can be stolen
• System can be bypassed.
• Does not protect against messages in the network.
• People will mes it up.

Question 20

Advantages of Encryption

Answer 20

• Strong encryption is hard to break.
• Computers are fast enough to encrypt data on the fly.

Question 21

Disadvantages of Encryption?

Answer 21

• Users create stupid\easy passwords
• Password needs to be transmitted allowing the receiver to read the message.
• Some encryptions have backdoors.