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WIRELESS
HACKING
P r o j e c t s f o r
W i - F i E n t h u s i a s t s
By the SoCalFreeNet.org Wireless Users Group
Lee Barken
with
Eric Bermel, John Eder, Matthew Fanady
Michael Mee, Marc Palumbo, Alan Koebrick
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KEY SERIAL NUMBER
001 HJCV184764
002 PO5FGHJ887
003 82JH26765V
004 VBHF43299M
005 C23NMVCXZ3
006 VB5T883E4F
007 HJJ3EBNBB6
008 2987GMKKMM
009 629JT5678N
010 IMWT6T3456
PUBLISHED BY
Syngress Publishing,Inc.
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Wireless Hacking: Projects for Wi-Fi Enthusiasts
Copyright © 2004 by Syngress Publishing,Inc.All rights reserved.Printed in the United States of America.Except as per-
mitted under the Copyright Act of 1976,no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any
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Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
ISBN:1-931836-37-X
Publisher:Andrew Williams Page Layout and Art:Patricia Lupien
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Technical Editor:Lee Barken Indexer:Odessa&Cie
Cover Designer:Michael Kavish
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For information on rights and translations,contact Matt Pedersen,Director of Sales and Rights,at Syngress Publishing;email
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Acknowledgments
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Hart,Sara Winge,C.J.Rayhill,Peter Pardo,Leslie Crandell,Valerie Dow,Regina Aggio,Pascal
Honscher,Preston Paull,Susan Thompson,Bruce Stewart,Laura Schmier,Sue Willing,Mark Jacobsen,
Betsy Waliszewski,Dawn Mann,Kathryn Barrett,John Chodacki,and Rob Bullington.
The incredibly hard working team at Elsevier Science,including Jonathan Bunkell,Ian Seager,Duncan
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Emma Wyatt,Rosie Moss,Chris Hossack,Mark Hunt,and Krista Leppiko,for making certain that our
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Technical Editor & Contributor
Lee Barken CISSP,CCNA,MCP,CPA,is the co-director of the Strategic
Technologies And Research (STAR) Center at San Diego State University (SDSU)
and the President and co-founder of SoCalFreeNet.org,a non-profit community
group dedicated to building public wireless networks.Prior to SDSU,he worked as
an IT consultant and network security specialist for Ernst & Young’s Information
Technology Risk Management (ITRM) practice and KPMG’s Risk and Advisory
Services (RAS) practice.Lee is the technical editor for Mobile Business Advisor
Magazine,and writes and speaks on the topic of wireless LAN technology and
security.He is the author of How Secure Is Your Wireless Network? Safeguarding Your
Wi-Fi LAN (ISBN 0131402064) and co-author of Hardware Hacking:Have Fun
While Voiding Your Warranty (ISBN 1932266836).
Lee is the author of Chapter 1 “A Brief Overview of the Wireless World,”Chapter 2
“SoCalFreeNet.org:An Example of Building Large Scale Community Wireless Networks,”
Chapter 4 “Wireless Access Points,”Chapter 8 “Low-Cost Commercial Options,”and
Appendix A “Wireless 802.11 Hacks.”
“The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman’s heart.”
—Josiah G.Holland
To the love of my life,Stephanie:
Thank you for your never-ending love and encouragement.
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Contributors
Eric Bermel is an RF Engineer and Deployment Specialist.He has many years of
experience working for companies such as Graviton,Western US,Breezecom,
Alvarion,and PCSI.Eric has extensive experience developing and implementing
RF site surveys,installation and optimization plans for indoor and outdoor ISM
and U-NII band systems.
Eric is the author of Chapter 10 “Antennas.”
John Eder (CISSP,CCNA) is a security expert with Experian.He currently pro-
vides strategic and technical consulting on security policy and implementation.His
specialties involve:risk profiling,wireless security,network security,encryption
technologies,metrics development and deployment,and risk analysis.John’s back-
ground includes a position as a consultant in the Systems and Technology Services
(STS) practice at Ernst & Young,LLP.
John holds a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.He actively
participates in the security community,making presentations and writing numerous
articles on wireless security.John is a proud member of SoCalFreeNet.
John enjoys the support of his loving wife Lynda,a caring family (Gabriel,Lyn,
and Genevieve),and a great friendship with his director,Michael Kurihara.The
security information in this book was made possible through the help of the
m0n0wall team,the Soekris Engineering team,the West Sonoma County Internet
Cooperative Corporation,and the many members of SoCalFreeNet.
John is the author of Chapter 3 “Securing Our Wireless Community.”
Matthew Fanady is a gear-head turned networking and computer enthusiast,and
has been wrenching on cars and building computers since he was 16 years old.He
is currently employed designing and constructing electric vehicles for a small
startup company in San Diego,and spends his free time troubleshooting computers
and exploring new ways to incorporate the latest communications technologies
into everyday life.Matthew was one of the early pioneers of community wireless
networks.In 2002,he began building a grass-roots community wireless network in
his own neighborhood of Ocean Beach,where he was able to bring his passion for
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hacking together with his passion for wrenching.His efforts,along with those of
others in San Diego,led to the inception of SoCalFreeNet which continues to
build community-based wireless networks in San Diego.
Matthew is the author of Chapter 11 “Building Outdoor Enclosures and Antenna
Masts,”and Chapter 12 “Solar-Powered Access Points and Repeaters.”
Alan Koebrick is the Vice President of Operations for SoCalFreeNet.org.He is
also a Business Systems Analyst with a large telecommunications company in San
Diego.Alan has a Bachelors degree in E-Business from the University of Phoenix.
Prior to his current job,Alan spent 4 years with the United States Marine Corps
where he performed tasks as a Network Administrator and Legal Administrative
Clerk.Alan is also launching a new venture,North County Systems,a technology
integrator for the Small Office / Home Office market.
Alan is the author of Chapter 5 “Wireless Client Access Devices.”
Michael Mee Michael started building his own computers after discovering the
TRS-80 at Radio Shack years ago.He went on to work for a software startup,
before dot coms made it fashionable.Then he had several great years at Microsoft,
back when ‘the evil empire’meant IBM.There he worked on database products
like Access and Foxpro for Windows.Returning to his hacking roots,he’s now
helping build high-speed community wireless for users everywhere,especially
through SoCalFreeNet.org.
Michael is the author of Chapter 6 “Wireless Operating Systems,”and Chapter 7
“Monitoring Your Network.”
Marc Palumbo (Society of Mechanical Engineers #4094314) is the Creative
Director for the SoCalFreeNet.org.He is an Artist/Engineer and the owner of
Apogee Arts,headquartered in San Diego,California.His company builds
Community Networks,provisions Internet access for business and residential use,
and designs and executes LANS purposed for specific vertical markets such as
graphics,video editing,publishing,and FDA regulated manufacturing.He has built
secure wireless surveillance systems deployed in Baghdad,Iraq,and for Homeland
Security.Noteworthy wireless triage installations include the city of Telluride,
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