Frequency Hopping As Security

09-05-2001

My companies ISP has set up wireless internet access and a wireless LAN link to a remote location. I am very worried about the LAN connection. The ISP people tell me that the way they set up the frequency hopping spread spectrum would prevent any unauthorized access to our LAN. All of the sites I have checked do not even mention this as a possibility to improve WLAN security. The wireless products being used are from BreezeCom and are the SA-10 PRO and WB-10 PRO models from at least a year and a half ago.

Does just changing all the default settings secure a WLAN. I don't think it does, but I haven't found a white paper or web site which explains why this setup is not secure.

Thank You,

09-05-2001

Bob O'Hara wrote the IEEE 802.11 handbook, and is also a contributor to the BAWUG.org mailserv. This thread may help you.

http://lists.bawug.org/pipermail/wireless/2001-September/002484.html

09-05-2001

Thanks for the link. I sent it on to my ISP. I'm wondering what kind of response I will be getting. If anyone knows of further coroborating evidence, I would appreciate the links.

Thanks Again,

09-09-2001

I was under the impression that FHSS couldnt scale up to a high enough speed that DSSS can?

there is a ISP in my city that offers a MAX of 3mbit FHSS 802.11(didnt say if it was b, c, d etc, just "802.11") anyways... they say that the max is 3mbits, but in 'real life' you would see 1.5-2.0 mbits.

they are able to cover the entire downtown core (million+ north american city here) with one tower....

havn't actually tried to use their service, but this is what htey are spouting.

they require that you use specific FHSS cards and that DSSS cards are unable to pick up the signle (as we all well know)

so from a security standpoint, i do not think that netsumbler or hte current crop of utils out there can really take on FHSS in its current state of implementation. And from a security standpoint could very well be a capable solution.

but im not a radio wizard, so i may be missing out on somthing, but i understand how a trunked radio system works, and how trunk tracking works, and i think FHSS is somewhat analogous to trunked radio communication.

12-12-2001

Proxim has a really good cert program on FHSS. Our company went to FHSS (Millitary and Gov uses FHSS for security reasons and the NY Stock Exchange)because these guys came to our site and trainned all our engineers for free. Due to FCC Regs FHSS is only able to go as high as 2mbps. Check the experiance with your ISP if they claim 3mbps. Also due to the over head in 802.11 expect to only get 800kbps. You can validate this by using a FTP session. If you have questions just send me an email and I will help you.

KL..

09-05-2001	#1 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	Frequency Hopping As Security My companies ISP has set up wireless internet access and a wireless LAN link to a remote location. I am very worried about the LAN connection. The ISP people tell me that the way they set up the frequency hopping spread spectrum would prevent any unauthorized access to our LAN. All of the sites I have checked do not even mention this as a possibility to improve WLAN security. The wireless products being used are from BreezeCom and are the SA-10 PRO and WB-10 PRO models from at least a year and a half ago. Does just changing all the default settings secure a WLAN. I don't think it does, but I haven't found a white paper or web site which explains why this setup is not secure. Thank You,

09-05-2001	#2 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	Bob wrote the book... Bob O'Hara wrote the IEEE 802.11 handbook, and is also a contributor to the BAWUG.org mailserv. This thread may help you. http://lists.bawug.org/pipermail/wireless/2001-September/002484.html

09-05-2001	#3 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	Re: Frequency Hopping As Security Thanks for the link. I sent it on to my ISP. I'm wondering what kind of response I will be getting. If anyone knows of further coroborating evidence, I would appreciate the links. Thanks Again,

12-12-2001	#5 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	FHSS Cert..... Proxim has a really good cert program on FHSS. Our company went to FHSS (Millitary and Gov uses FHSS for security reasons and the NY Stock Exchange)because these guys came to our site and trainned all our engineers for free. Due to FCC Regs FHSS is only able to go as high as 2mbps. Check the experiance with your ISP if they claim 3mbps. Also due to the over head in 802.11 expect to only get 800kbps. You can validate this by using a FTP session. If you have questions just send me an email and I will help you. KL..

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09-09-2001	#4 (permalink)
Posts: n/a	I was under the impression that FHSS couldnt scale up to a high enough speed that DSSS can? there is a ISP in my city that offers a MAX of 3mbit FHSS 802.11(didnt say if it was b, c, d etc, just "802.11") anyways... they say that the max is 3mbits, but in 'real life' you would see 1.5-2.0 mbits. they are able to cover the entire downtown core (million+ north american city here) with one tower.... havn't actually tried to use their service, but this is what htey are spouting. they require that you use specific FHSS cards and that DSSS cards are unable to pick up the signle (as we all well know) so from a security standpoint, i do not think that netsumbler or hte current crop of utils out there can really take on FHSS in its current state of implementation. And from a security standpoint could very well be a capable solution. but im not a radio wizard, so i may be missing out on somthing, but i understand how a trunked radio system works, and how trunk tracking works, and i think FHSS is somewhat analogous to trunked radio communication.