The university IT staff is aware of the situation. They have only just
implemented the security scheme, primarily to deal with the student
accommodation that is in the same building that I live in. (I am a staff
member). Also, since I am in an Asian country, there are various language and
cultural barriers associated with trying to explain the issues to them and
getting them to take it seriously. I (or rather my husband, who is also a
professor here) notified them of the problem and they are "looking at it",
but I suspect that they will just tell me that it "can't be done" rather than
seriously looking for a solution.
The system they have set up means that as soon as you start a browser you
are taken to a login page where you need to supply a user name and password
before you can access any Internet resources (including university web
sites). I don't know about other local network resources (Windows/Netware)
since my home PC isn't logged in to the local network (and neither will the
laptops be). The software appears to be from Aruba Networks, since the URL at
the top begins
https://securelogin.arubanetworks.com.
I already have firewall software running on my PC, and it is extremely
unlikely that intruders can get onto our wireless connection for a variety of
reasons, including physical security of the building surrounds, and that the
walls are so thick that the connection barely works within our flat let alone
outside. What other security precautions would I need to take to prevent
problems?
Koren,
Let's see. A bridge operates at OSI Layer 2 (Data Link), and a Firewall /
Router at OSI Layers 3/4 (Network / Transport). I'd question whether anything
bridged would even go thru the firewall, so if you have two connections, and
you're operating a bridge, that's an open passage from the untrusted network
(Internet or WiFi LAN) into the trusted network (your University LAN), and on
the WRONG side of the Aruba proxy.
<
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model>
Now the issue of signal strength is really one of security by obscurity, as in
there would be lots of stronger signals nearby, so no intruder would ever use
mine. You're implying, though, that you have a weak signal, so no intruder
would ever see yours. Koren, this is not accurate. Wardrivers use high gain
antennas; while your wimpy little stub antenna might barely get you +3db SNR, a
wardriver with a high gain parabola might sit in a parking lot a block away and
surf with +6db SNR. Please don't confuse yourself, wardrivers don't play by
your rules, or use your hardware.
This story illustrates how easy wardriving is.
<
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/incredibly-stupid-wardriver.html>
So let's see how this works.
University Network <=(1)=> PC <=(2)=> WiFi Router <-(3)-> Laptops
where <-(n)-> is wireless, and <=(n)=> is Ethernet. You could indeed install a
second card in your PC, and make a bridge out of it. But it would, I think,
have the security problem that I described above.
What you would want to do is use the WiFi router as a WAP. I've written an
article explaining how to do this.
<
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/file-sharing-on-lan-with-two-routers.html>
If I was a LAN admin that setup a proxy requiring authentication, I'd certainly
not appreciate it to find a bridged connection connecting the protected side of
my proxy (my LAN) to the unprotected WiFi environment. And I doubt that I'd be
too polite if I did find one. Don't put yourself, or the University network, at
risk please.
I do hope, for everybody's sake, that they ARE sweeping their network looking
for unauthorised connections. WiFi leaks, like what you're contemplating, are
well known threats in the business world, and a whole product line of commercial
products, designed to find unauthorised WiFi installations, are available. I
wouldn't be too surprised to find that your University LAN admins are taking
similar precautions.
This is not to say that I don't think you should have wireless convenience. I
do, but what you're proposing, without you knowing the risks, would be very
wrong.
Even normal WiFi precautions, which would protect your 2 laptops, and your PC,
still won't protect the University LAN IMHO. Please read this article and
carefully consider all precautions for YOUR computers.
<
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/setting-up-wifi-lan-please-protect.html>
I'm going to do some deeper research into the bridge implications. Please let
me know that you have read this, and understand what I said, and whether my
ASCII art diagram above is what you're considering. I will get back to you, so
please be patient.
