Wireless networking is governed by protocols and configurations in much the same way that wired networks are. Wireless networks make use of radio spectrum frequencies to transmit data between the access point and the connected networks. For our purposes, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) have a great deal of similarities to standard Local Area Networks (LANs). The major focus of penetration testers is on identifying the target network and gaining access.
Wireless networking
Overview of 802.11
The overriding standard governing wireless network is the IEEE 802.11 standard. This set of rules was first developed for ease of use and the ability to rapidly connect devices. Concerns about security were not addressed in the initial...