Wireless pentesting has emerged as one of the predominant species in the penetration testing habitat. The reason is the burgeoning spread of wireless or Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) technology across the length and breadth of the planet. Due to the dependence on virtual connectivity with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a further escalation for wireless techs like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A recent Allied Market Research report suggests that the wireless technology market shall reach a mark of $150 billion by 2027 with a steep growth rate of 13 percent annually. This massive need for wireless innovations also brings a whole new range of security concerns.
Now, entities everywhere need to stay wary of the possible interceptions of their wireless networks by malicious adversaries. Wireless penetration testing can promote better safeguarding of your connectivity, networks, and tools. Wondering how? Let’s find out!
What is wireless penetration testing?
The term wireless penetration testing refers to the process of ascertaining and evaluating the multiple connections linking different devices of an organization to its wireless networking mediums. The gadgets and devices connected can include laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other forms of IoT equipment. This type of pentesting focuses fundamentally on examining the wireless services available in the physical vicinity of your entity’s network. Such services cover cellular networks, Wi-Fi, radio frequency technologies like RFID, Bluetooth devices, and wireless printers or keyboards. Conducting penetration tests on your wireless security configuration gauges its resilience against various infiltration attempts and fatal threats. It offers resolutions related to executing updated cybersecurity policies and managing varied vulnerabilities.
What are the most prevalent risks and vulnerabilities found during wireless pen testing?
Any penetration test aims to find the loopholes in the cybersecurity architecture to prevent actual attackers from accessing your internal assets. You can use wireless pentesting to discover the misconfigurations in your wireless network setup before any real hacker exploits them. The most commonly found vulnerabilities that one can detect with wireless pentesting include:
- Easily accessible or rogue access points
- Slow or unauthorized data rates
- MAC spoofing
- Man-in-the-middle exploits
- Vendor-supplier defaults
- WEP weaknesses
- DoS attacks
- Spotting untrained users
- Insufficient physical boundaries leading to accidental associations
- Areas susceptible to eavesdropping
- Improperly configured firewalls
- Wardriving risks
- Presence of malware
- Improper encryption
- Unsuitable router setups
- WPA key weaknesses
- Guest Wi-Fi connection risks
What should be the goal of a wireless penetration test?
Every pentest team should understand the goal of their testing efforts appropriately. Ideally, the aim of any wireless penetration test comprises four aspects:
- Complete comprehension of the risk related to every wireless access point
- Grade the potency of all the wireless security policies
- Dig out and analyze different vulnerabilities
- Create a data-directed action map to reduce risks and rectify identified susceptibilities.
Why should businesses think about undertaking wireless pen testing?
If your business relies on the conveniences available with wireless network configurations, you cannot ignore the importance of wireless penetration testing. You cannot let the dangers of an unsecured wireless network overshadow the boons of having the same.
Here we have some top plus pointers for utilizing wireless pentests for your organization:
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Backs the quick identification of rogue access points
A rogue access point refers to a wireless access spot that gets installed on a secure network without the required authorization of the network administrator. These points can act as hazardous areas for potential attacks on your entity and are often difficult to discover. Wireless pentesting can support the revelation of any unwanted rogue access points on your network.
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Enables the detection of default Wi-Fi routers in your entity
Penetration testing can back many businesses to sort out the default Wi-Fi routers. It helps you to connect your devices only via secure lines.
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Offers a detailed insight into the existing vulnerabilities of your wireless network
Unearthing the vulnerable points in your wireless network can be time-consuming and complex. Wireless penetration testing experts can help you get a clear picture of your wireless network architecture’s risks and susceptible areas.
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It helps to secure your Bluetooth connections.
Bluetooth technology is often considered relatively secure. However, there are still possibilities of misuse of data shared on Bluetooth devices. Wireless pentesting allows better safeguarding of your Bluetooth-connected devices.
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Brings forth duplicated or misconfigured wireless networks
The presence of duplicated or misconfigured wireless networks can signify a likely data breach. Penetration testing can help prevent such instances by building a stronger wireless system.
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Creates a more shielded environment for your team and customers
Many business entities rely on wireless technologies like WLAN and WAP to offer their workforce and customers internet services. There are high chances of many illicit attempts to access your sensitive data via such wireless networks. The use of regular wireless penetration tests can allow the sustenance of a more secure wireless network-driven culture.
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Eases the compliance requirements of diverse regulations
Wireless penetration testing has also become a compliance need as per some recognized security regulations like PCI DSS, SOC2, and HIPAA. Thus, hiring a skilled pentesting team can ease the regulatory compliance process.
Which forms of organizations might need wireless penetration testing the most?
There are specific organizations that may need to undertake regular wireless pen tests more than others. Here are some forms of business enterprises that should strongly consider wireless pen-testing.
- Entities relying on IoT-based equipment
- Businesses dependent on smart devices connected to Wi-Fi
- Organizations with sizeable foot traffic on their virtual handles and website
- Entities located in close proximity to unaccounted Wi-Fi connections
What is the usual engagement process for implementing a wireless pentest?
The general methodology to execute a wireless pen testing project can be categorized into the below-mentioned areas:
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Wireless reconnaissance
Pentesters cannot commence their testing project without the necessary details. Information assimilation is critical to performing a successful wireless pen test. The testing teams generally prefer wardriving techniques to get details about networks such as Wi-Fi. It involves sniffing out Wi-Fi signals. Thus, there is the creation of an inventory of all sensitive data related to the networks and access points.
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Identification of wireless networks
Now comes the time to diagnose the various wireless networks that the client entity uses. The testing team scans through the different traffic channels to list the essential network aspects they can test.
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Researching the vulnerabilities involved
Next, the testing team analyzes and creates a risk profile for all the recognized wireless networks. This step works as the final preparatory stage before initiating the actual simulated attack. The testers go through all the weaklings to carry out the test effectively.
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Carrying out the exploit
Here is the stage where the pentesting team proceeds to strike the vulnerable zones of the network configuration. They try to take control of the entire system and access crucial details of the client.
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Performing the post-exploitation requirements
Succeeding the initial exploitation comes to the stage of conducting the post-exploitation activities. The testers observe the results of the preliminary attacks on the network and carry out further onslaughts, if required, to discover more weaknesses.
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Finishing the client reporting process and
After the conclusion of the exploitation procedure, the testing team communicates the test results to the client. They report an executive summary regarding the misconfiguration of their network security infrastructure.
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Implementing security controls and recovery measures
The ethical hacking team joins hands with the client’s internal team to initiate controls and remediation strategies.
What are the traits of a conducive wireless pen testing partner?
All penetration testing ventures are not the ideal match for your business. You should know the requirements of your business and the expertise of the proposed provider. A desirable wireless pen testing company has some peculiarities that prospective clients must know.
- Enables effortless compliance
- Carries pentests unobtrusively
- Offers actionable measures
- Provides root cause analysis
Penetration testing consultants from NaviSec are here to assist you!
NaviSec is your one-stop solution provider for myriad penetration testing needs, including wireless pen-testing. An alliance with our skilled clan of cybersecurity consultants will help you create a robust data protection environment. We have a hands-on testing team that tailors the testing process as per your requisites. Contact us today!
