Well, I’ve officially beaten the Cisco classes for becoming a CCNA. For those who don’t know, that’s basically all of the classes that you must endure to be able to take the class to get your cisco networking certification. It’s one of the most sought certifications in the networking field and is no “chump” ticket when it comes to knowledge and those bragging rights. But what did I learn? Security is a must, a need, a requirement.
I always thought my router was secure until I started poking around into Wireless Security through cisco’s website. While the classes focus mostly on wired networks, they have a contiguous section completely about wireless security and protocols. Quite frankly, I’ve got to admit that wireless security nowadays is nothing less then a joke.
I started experimenting with my wireless router. It’s quite the router, being a DD-WRT based WRT54G-TM router. I broke my own WEP security with a T&E program I found for Windows through google. Nothing else but a program that watched traffic and used a T&E method to bust my code. It took no more then two hours for it to have complete access to my router and all my shared files! Ok…
WPA and this new method using “rainbow” keys somehow managed to work with an application I found through google as well. However it took well over three hours for it to break my random lettered code I used for a password. Unbelievable. UN BE LEAVE A BULL.
I couldn’t believe that what is so “pronounced” was so easily broken with simple downloads through google and a linksys USB adapter. So, I was determined to STOP the access at all cost.
Well now, I’m sitting with a router that has NO security protocols and even broadcasts it’s SSID to the world. “Idareyou” is the SSID if you must know. Using an access list and MAC addressing, my Playstation 3, Laptop and my PSP all have exclusive access to the network. However, there’s no way for another wireless adapter to connect. After even trying to “fake” MAC address through a program I found and it didn’t work at all. Now, knowing the IP and faking the mac address does work, but won’t allow for file sharing. However, the internet access is usable for a period of time. But how many people are going to guess my network addressing scheme? Not many. 
So basically I found out, setting up an access list and having a good MAC Address list can really be a better security then even WPA2! Take that to heart the next time you’re setting up your wireless network. I proudly say, “My network ID is Idareyou.”
