Evaluation of Enhanced Security Solutions in 802.11-Based Networks

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of various enhanced security protocols for 802.11 wireless networks, emphasizing the importance of encryption, authentication, and integrity techniques, and suggesting a Defence-in-Depth approach with biometric integration.

Contribution

It offers a holistic comparison of security solutions for WLANs, highlighting the effectiveness of different encryption and authentication methods and proposing integrated security strategies.

Findings

Security strength depends on encryption, authentication, and integrity techniques.

Biometric solutions can enhance WLAN security.

A Defence-in-Depth strategy improves overall security.

Abstract

Traditionally, 802.11-based networks that relied on wired equivalent protocol (WEP) were especially vulnerable to packet sniffing. Today, wireless networks are more prolific, and the monitoring devices used to find them are mobile and easy to access. Securing wireless networks can be difficult because these networks consist of radio transmitters and receivers, and anybody can listen, capture data and attempt to compromise it. In recent years, a range of technologies and mechanisms have helped make networking more secure. This paper holistically evaluated various enhanced protocols proposed to solve WEP related authentication, confidentiality and integrity problems. It discovered that strength of each solution depends on how well the encryption, authentication and integrity techniques work. The work suggested using a Defence-in-Depth Strategy and integration of biometric solution in 802.11i. Comprehensive in-depth comparative analysis of each of the security mechanisms is driven by review of related work in WLAN security solutions.