Essentials First: Wireless Hacking Tools

This section examines some of the tools that eliminate some of the threats discussed in the preceding sections. In theory, these tools were all designed to help network administrators take care of their networks, and they are still touted as such on each website. In reality, these are some of the same tools that attackers can and will use; thus, network administrators should also use them to ensure that their wireless networks are secure.

NetStumbler

Wireless networking is everywhere! That is not meant as hyperbole—it really is everywhere. Wireless technology uses radio waves to transmit data, so wireless packets are probably flowing in the air in front of you as you read this.

As everyone knows by now, where wireless packets flow, wireless APs are pumping them out. (Where there is smoke, there is fire.) If only there were a way to find out whether any WAPs were nearby. Fortunately (and unfortunately), there is a way to discover just that.