ExperimentalStudy of Sequential and Random Channel Hopping for Detecting Wi-Fi Access Points

Abstract

Wi-Fi is a technology widely spread around the world. The appropriate infrastructure allows users of public Wi-Fi networks to maintain a stable level of Internet communications and at the same time remain mobile. However, Wi-Fi connection is vulnerable to several computer threats that can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information transmitted by Wi-Fi clients. Among the most notorious Wi-Fi attacks is the rogue AP attack, a common way to detect which is to scan the air and analyze intercepted packets with AP information. Since the Wi-Fi frequency band is divided into channels, the scanning device must switch between them in order to capture packets in all frequency bands. The paper presents the results of an experimental study that establishes the dependence of Wi-Fi access points detection during scanning with sequential and random channel hopping. The research results were used to optimize the Wi-Fi attack detection system.