Enforcing Security

Security is enforced through three primary mechanisms as shown in
Figure 2.4:
1. Authentication
2. Encryption
3. Pseudorandom frequency band hops

The last mechanism, frequency band hops, causes the greatest problems
for any hacker attempting to eavesdrop on your wireless communications.
Authentication permits the user to control how device connectivity
is designated for each individual wireless user.
In order to prevent anyone who can eavesdrop on your wireless communications
from understanding or using your information for any
unlawful purpose, encryption techniques use a secret key to scramble your information so it is unusable to anyone who doesn’t know the key.
Secret key length is normally 1 bit, 40 bits, or 64 bits.
The higher the bit level, the more security you have for your applications.
Aside from using the highest level of encryption possible, it is just
as important to have distinct types of transfer protocols monitored by
wireless intrusion detection software. This all provides you with a superior
level of protection regardless of platform, computer, or networking
medium used.