Wlan Security, Vulnerabilities And Solutions

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is expected to continue to be an important form of network connection in many business areas. With widen prospect, it become an important research field.In the WLAN, sniffing becomes easier because the way of connection alter that the intruder only need put the wireless enable terminal in the coverage of the WLAN. It means that the attacker can sniff data and crack via the air. Because of this, the security problems of WLAN become urgent need to resolve.As mentioned above, the prospects of WLAN is limitless. But the security problems become the biggest factor to restricting WLAN rapid develop. Understanding, research, and solve the security problem of WLAN, is a very important research topic.This issue is starting with the security problem of WLAN, and in-depth analysis several major security protocol of the current WLAN network. The three main authentication mechanisms are:Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)WPA Security Protocol (WPA2)Then, to analyze these different kinds of protocol, expatiate on WEP security protocol and security protocols WPA security mechanisms. Finally, find out the existing vulnerabilities, and to complete two important tasks:1st. Use two security vulnerabilities of WEP protocol, RC4 algorithm problem and the initial vector problem, and implement experimental cracking WLAN.2ed. Analysis the WPA security mechanisms, identify WPA security vulnerabilities, matching master key (PMK) and the Service Set Identifier (SSID) problems, and described a complete process of WPA.Finally, along with the experiments, it will discuss the solution for against the cracking methods:1) The two vulnerabilities of WEP protocol, using short-term solution (TKIP) and long-term solution (CCMP), the ultimate wireless LAN security.2) The major vulnerabilities of the WPA protocol, using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and add the Round key of wireless LAN security.Through this research topic, the purpose is to deeper understanding of WLAN security mechanisms, to find security loopholes, and to work out a reasonable solution to make WLANs more security. The future of WLAN must be beautiful.