Security issues with regards to wireless networks...

From: Ram Samudrala (ram@public.compbio.washington.edu)
Date: 03/16/03 

From: Ram Samudrala <ram@public.compbio.washington.edu>
Date: 16 Mar 2003 01:58:17 GMT

Okay, so one of the biggest problems even if you have a great firewall
(BTW, I just built a gigabit ethernet firewall using Linux and
shorewall for < $1500) is that someone can walk into the building
where the computers are located and can connect to the network with
your personal machine (and be root on that machine), and then use that
to attack machines on the inside (which at least in our case are far
less secure than the two machines exposed to the outside (the rest are
behind the firewall)). I hope this won't be an issue given more
traditional firewalls like locks and keys. But regardless, unless
someone physically plugs into a port on one of our switches (i.e.,
replaces an existing machine with their own), I believe we're pretty
well-protected.

However, a wireless network changes all that. One need not be
physically in a building to gain access to the network behind the
firewall if the wireless network isn't configured correctly. And my
question is, can a wireless network be configured so that it behaves
like a wired network and offers the same security (in other words,
prevent unauthorised machines from becoming part of our network
without physical access)? And are there any good descriptions of the
security risks of wireless networks? (I've searched the web and
haven't found any that are useful.)

Thanks.

--Ram

Relevant Pages

  • Re: redhat-list Digest, Vol 9, Issue 28
    ... how to set up wireless network connection ... > in Fedro 2 ... > firewall at the enterprise ...
    (RedHat)
  • Re: PC reeaall sllooooooww
    ... Recently had trouble getting my PC to communicate to my Tivo DVR ... my wireless network. ... It took 6 hours to uninstall Norton Firewall. ... you have hardware failure and here are some general hardware ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Security issues with regards to wireless networks...
    ... so one of the biggest problems even if you have a great firewall ... a wireless network changes all that. ... physically in a building to gain access to the network behind the ... security risks of wireless networks? ...
    (comp.os.linux.security)
  • Re: Updates changed network settings
    ... >microsoft which enabled the Microsoft Internet Firewall. ... >If the Firewall is ENABLED and I select "View Workgroup Computers", ... wireless network via the wireless link. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Security issues with regards to wireless networks...
    ... > physically in a building to gain access to the network behind the ... > firewall if the wireless network isn't configured correctly. ... and if firewall filters by mac, capture some mac and assign that to the interface. ...
    (comp.os.linux.security)