Frequency and encryption usage, investigation of the wireless landscape. : A study of access points in Karlskrona

Sammanfattning: Background. Wireless connectivity is simple and convenient for the user. This is the reasons why it is predominantly used today for local networks at home. However the potential drawbacks facing this technology is unknown to many of its users. This study is aimed at examining some of these issues in the context of what is used today.Objectives. This study intends to research what types of security features and frequency settings are being used today. It also aims to evaluate what this means in the context of security and usability effecting the user.Methods. The approach of this study is to gather networks in different geographical areas. To do this a Raspberry Pi with an external antenna is used. When the data collection is completed, the networks are broken down into categories. Results. The results show significant frequency overlap on the most commonly used channels. There are vastly more overlap in areas with apartment buildings compared to other residential areas. The results also show that most networks are using secure encryption settings. Conclusions. Careful selection of channels is required to minimise interference, but methods for doing so is specific for each environment. Security wise there are no big concerns except when it comes to password selection.