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Wireless networking FAQ

Wireless networking FAQ:

Q) What is an access point or router?

A) An access point is the central point where wireless devices communicate with for network connectivity. The access point or routers job is to receive traffic from a sender and redirect it to the correct receiver.

Q) How is it possible to connect to an access point?

A) To connect to an access point a wireless access device is required. This can be in the form of a PCMCIA card, PCI card or USB stick.

Q) What network speeds do wireless networks offer?

A) Old generation wireless devices offered speeds of 11mbits/sec. Typical speeds are now 54mbits/sec, however faster speeds such as 108mbits/sec are becoming more popular.

Q) What advantages do wireless networks offer over wired networks?

A) Wireless networks eliminate the need for cables, thus reducing cable mess and making installation easier. Users can relocate laptops if required so long as they are within range. Adding new users is simply a matter of adding an access device to the users computer and configuring it for network access. Q) Why is wireless security so important?

Wireless security is important because unlike traditional wired networks, signals are propagated in all directions through the airwaves. This means intruders can pick up on these signals and hack into the network and access resources such as the Internet. Hackers can hack into an unsecured network from the Internet and steal sensitive information such as stored credit card numbers, as well deleting valuable data. A victims computer can be used to launch attacks on other computers connected to the Internet or for sending out thousands of spam emails. A virus can cause all sorts of unpredictable mayhem and result in system crashes.