Wi-Fi networks are an integral part of our daily lives, providing internet access for everything from streaming media to conducting business. However, the convenience of wireless connectivity comes with its own set of risks. Cyber attackers often target Wi-Fi networks to intercept sensitive data, gain unauthorized access, or disrupt service. In this post, we'll explore common Wi-Fi security threats, how these attacks work, and most importantly, what you can do to protect your network.
Wi-Fi security refers to the protective measures implemented to secure a wireless network from unauthorized access, data interception, and other types of cyberattacks. Securing your Wi-Fi network is essential not just for personal privacy but also for the protection of your devices and online transactions.
Common Wi-Fi security protocols include:
While WPA2 and WPA3 offer strong protection, Wi-Fi networks remain vulnerable to various forms of attack, especially if they are not configured correctly or are using outdated protocols.
Eavesdropping, also known as packet sniffing, occurs when an attacker intercepts the data being transmitted over a Wi-Fi network. Attackers can capture unencrypted traffic and gain access to sensitive information such as passwords, login credentials, or browsing activity.
If a Wi-Fi network is not encrypted (or uses weak encryption like WEP), anyone within range of the signal can use tools like Wireshark or Kismet to capture packets transmitted across the network.
from scapy.all import *
def packet_callback(packet):
if packet.haslayer(Dot11):
print(packet.show())
# Sniff Wi-Fi packets on interface wlan0
sniff(iface="wlan0", prn=packet_callback, store=0)
Explanation:
This Python script uses the scapy library to sniff Wi-Fi packets. If you are on an unsecured network, you might be able to capture sensitive data being sent between users and the access point.
In a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack, an attacker intercepts the communication between two devices on a network. This allows the attacker to spy on, alter, or even redirect traffic without the knowledge of the victim.
One common form of MITM on Wi-Fi networks is the Evil Twin attack. In this attack, the attacker sets up a rogue access point with the same SSID as a legitimate network. When users unknowingly connect to the rogue access point, the attacker can capture and manipulate the data being transmitted.
# Start monitoring mode on your wireless interface
sudo ip link set wlan0 down
sudo iw dev wlan0 set type monitor
sudo ip link set wlan0 up
# Deauthenticate a device from the network
sudo aireplay-ng -0 1 -a <target_AP_MAC> -c <client_MAC> wlan0
# Create a fake Wi-Fi network
sudo airbase-ng -e "Fake WiFi Network" -c 6 wlan0mon
Explanation:
This set of commands uses aircrack-ng to create a rogue access point with the same name (SSID) as a legitimate network, effectively tricking users into connecting to it. Once connected, attackers can intercept and manipulate data.
A brute force attack occurs when an attacker attempts to guess the Wi-Fi password by trying every possible combination until the correct one is found. This is often done after capturing the WPA handshake during the connection process.
Once an attacker captures a WPA handshake (the process that occurs when a device connects to the network), they can use a tool like aircrack-ng to perform a dictionary attack or brute-force attack to guess the password.
# Capture WPA handshake
sudo airodump-ng --bssid <target_AP_MAC> -c 6 -w handshake wlan0mon
# Crack the captured handshake using a wordlist
aircrack-ng handshake-01.cap -w /path/to/dictionary.txt
Explanation:
This code captures the WPA handshake and then uses a dictionary file to try to crack the password. Brute-force attacks are often successful against weak passwords, but strong, complex passwords can make this process difficult and time-consuming.
A Denial of Service (DoS) or jamming attack floods a Wi-Fi network with excessive traffic or interference, rendering the network unavailable to legitimate users.
In Wi-Fi networks, attackers can perform deauthentication attacks using tools like aireplay-ng to send fake deauthentication packets, causing devices to disconnect from the network repeatedly.
# Send deauthentication packets to disconnect a device
sudo aireplay-ng -0 0 -a <target_AP_MAC> -c <client_MAC> wlan0mon
Explanation:
This command floods the targeted access point with deauthentication packets, forcing devices to repeatedly disconnect from the network. This causes a denial of service for the targeted users.
WPS is a feature designed to simplify the process of connecting devices to a Wi-Fi network. However, WPS can be vulnerable to brute-force attacks, where an attacker guesses the 8-digit PIN to gain access to the network.
WPS-enabled routers generate an 8-digit PIN used for connecting devices. If this feature is enabled, an attacker can use tools like reaver to perform a brute-force attack and crack the PIN.
# Brute-force the WPS PIN to gain access
sudo reaver -i wlan0mon -b <target_AP_MAC> -vv
Explanation:
Reaver is a popular tool used for brute-forcing WPS PINs. By guessing the PIN, the attacker can eventually gain access to the target network.