4.3c Wireless & Network Security — Edexcel 1CP2

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⭐ Enrichment lesson — this topic is not assessed in the Edexcel 1CP2 GCSE exam. It provides valuable extra knowledge but should not replace revision of the core specification.

Wireless Network Standards

Wi-Fi uses the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. Different generations offer different speeds and frequencies:

Standard	Frequency	Max Speed	Notes
802.11b	2.4 GHz	11 Mbps	Older, limited range
802.11g	2.4 GHz	54 Mbps	Backward compatible with 802.11b
802.11n	2.4/5 GHz	600 Mbps	Dual-band
802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)	5 GHz	3.5 Gbps	Very fast, shorter range

Wired vs Wireless Networks

Feature	Wired (Ethernet)	Wireless (Wi-Fi)
Speed	Faster (up to 10 Gbps)	Slower but improving
Security	More secure — physical cable required	Less secure — signals can be intercepted
Reliability	Very reliable — no interference	Subject to interference (walls, microwaves, other devices)
Mobility	Limited — cable attached to device	Full mobility within range
Cost	Higher installation cost (cabling)	Lower installation cost

Wireless Security Protocols

Wireless networks need encryption to prevent unauthorised access and eavesdropping:

Protocol	Full Name	Security Level	Notes
WEP	Wired Equivalent Privacy	Weak	Outdated, easily cracked — should not be used
WPA	Wi-Fi Protected Access	Moderate	Improved encryption over WEP
WPA2	Wi-Fi Protected Access 2	Strong	Uses AES encryption — current standard for home/business
WPA3	Wi-Fi Protected Access 3	Very strong	Latest standard, better protection on open networks

Threats to Wireless Networks

Eavesdropping — attacker intercepts unencrypted data transmitted over Wi-Fi
Rogue access point — fake Wi-Fi hotspot set up by attacker to intercept traffic (evil twin attack)
Wardriving — driving around to find unsecured/weakly secured wireless networks
Packet sniffing — software captures network packets to read data

Protecting a Wireless Network

Use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption with a strong, unique password
Change the default router admin password
Disable SSID broadcasting (hides the network name from casual discovery)
Enable MAC address filtering — only allow specific device MAC addresses
Keep router firmware updated
Use a firewall to filter incoming and outgoing traffic

Exam tip: WEP is weak; WPA2 is the standard; WPA3 is newest. For comparison questions: wired = faster, more secure, less mobile; wireless = flexible but less secure and subject to interference.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Saying WEP is secure — it is outdated and easily cracked
Confusing the wireless standard (802.11ac) with the security protocol (WPA2)
Forgetting that disabling SSID broadcast alone is not sufficient security

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✍️ Worksheet — 4.3c Wireless Networks & Security

8 questions · Wi-Fi standards, WEP/WPA2, threats

Q1State TWO advantages and TWO disadvantages of wireless networks compared to wired networks.[4]

✅ Mark scheme

Advantages: mobility — users can move freely within range [1]; lower installation cost — no cabling required [1]. Disadvantages: less secure — signals can be intercepted [1]; subject to interference — walls, other devices can degrade signal [1]. Also accept: slower speeds, less reliable.

Q2Explain why WEP should no longer be used to secure a wireless network.[2]

✅ Mark scheme

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) uses weak/outdated encryption [1]; it can be cracked quickly using freely available tools — attackers can intercept and decrypt traffic easily [1]. WPA2 or WPA3 should be used instead.

Q3Describe what a 'rogue access point' (evil twin) attack is and how it works.[3]

✅ Mark scheme

An attacker sets up a fake Wi-Fi hotspot with the same name (SSID) as a legitimate network [1]; unsuspecting users connect to it thinking it is the real network [1]; all data transmitted by the victim passes through the attacker's device, allowing interception of sensitive information (passwords, banking details) [1].

Q4Give FOUR measures that can be taken to improve the security of a home wireless network.[4]

✅ Mark scheme

Any four of: use WPA2/WPA3 encryption [1]; use a strong, unique Wi-Fi password [1]; change the router admin default password [1]; disable SSID broadcasting [1]; enable MAC address filtering [1]; keep router firmware updated [1]; use a firewall [1].

Q5What is MAC address filtering? State ONE limitation of this technique.[3]

✅ Mark scheme

MAC address filtering allows only devices with pre-approved MAC addresses to connect to the network [2]; limitation: MAC addresses can be 'spoofed' (faked) by an attacker who captures legitimate MAC addresses from network traffic [1]; also: time-consuming to manage many devices.

Q6A school uses WPA2 to secure its wireless network. Explain what WPA2 does to protect network data.[3]

✅ Mark scheme

WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) encrypts all data transmitted over the wireless network [1]; uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) — a strong encryption algorithm [1]; requires authentication with a password before a device can join, preventing unauthorised access [1].

Q7Compare the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands used in Wi-Fi. Give ONE advantage of each.[4]

✅ Mark scheme

2.4 GHz advantage: longer range — the signal travels further and penetrates walls better [2]; 5 GHz advantage: faster speeds — higher bandwidth with less interference from other devices (though shorter range) [2].

Q8What is 'packet sniffing'? Give ONE way to protect against it on a wireless network.[3]

✅ Mark scheme

Packet sniffing uses software to capture and read data packets transmitted across a network [2]; protection: use WPA2/WPA3 encryption so captured packets cannot be read (they appear as unintelligible ciphertext) [1]. Also accept: use HTTPS on websites, use a VPN.

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Term	Definition

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Wireless Network Standards

Wired vs Wireless Networks

Wireless Security Protocols

Threats to Wireless Networks

Protecting a Wireless Network

✍️ Worksheet — 4.3c Wireless Networks & Security

Mini Test — Wireless & Security