Wireless Networking

Wireless Software

With a technology like wireless, there are many tools available that fill various functions. Of course, some of these tools can be used for both good and bad, depending on what you are using them for. Others fill requirements for wireless ISP's or help provide a level of security.

 

Netstumbler - www.netstumbler.com
This program is great for seeing what other access points are nearby. This can help you by seeing what other SSID's are around so you know what NOT to name yours, as well as help you pick a channel that doesn't have a lot of people using it, giving you a better signal between your access point and your client. Works only with certain cards. Windows and PocketPC versions are available.

Kismet - www.kismetwireless.net
This program is similar to Netstumbler, though for the open source world. Additional features that Kismet has include the ability to log any traffic heard, as well as providing additional detailed information. Unlike Netstumbler, Kismet is COMPLETELY passive, meaning no transmitting is done to obtain any of the information shown. Great for finding rogue access points as well as their users in a corporate environment. *nix, Familiar (Linux on iPAQ) and Sharp Zaurus versions are available.

Airsnort - airsnort.shmoo.com
This program was used in the early days of 802.11b to determine whether or not your access point and/or wireless adapters used insecure initialization values for the RC4 encryption used by WEP. Many newer AP's and cards have resolved this by not using the 3000-something weak IV's that could lead to the WEP key being cracked. *nix/X-Windows version available.

nocat - www.nocat.net/download
A set of Perl scripts and web pages that can provide a splash page (NoCatSplash) or basic level of user authentication (NoCatAuth) for people web browsing on your wireless network. Let them know whose connection they're using.

hostap - http://hostap.epitest.fi/
A *nix driver that works with certain models of wireless cards, turning your computer into a true, fully functioning access point. Very helpful if used to put a large number of services (i.e. dhcp, web, routing, etc.) into a single box with an access point.

Sputnik Community Gateway - /www.sputnik.com/products/scg.html
This is an integrated, cd-based version of linux that includes all the basic requirements to turn your desktop PC into an access point with a basic authentication system.

 

This is just a small cross section of some of the wide variety of wireless software applications in the world today. They exist for many platforms, performing many different functions, all with the potential for improving wireless networking.

We hope this brief look into some of the many areas of wireless networking has helped you learn more about what it is, how it works, and how to be safe using it. If you have questions about wireless networking, please feel free to head over to the General Technology message board and post your question(s) there. If someone is able to help you, they will respond to your post.

 

 

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