Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)

Wi-Fi i.e. short form of Wireless Fidelity is the most astonishing technology that permits the user to connect the internet without any physical medium. It makes use of radio signals for transmitting data between the internet and Wi-Fi enabled devices.

Wi-Fi network operation scan be done on the data link layer and the data link layer. Basic concepts of Wi-Fi are identical to a walkie talkie,in which Wi-Fi hot-spot is created through an access point acts as a base station.

Initially, wireless fidelity was established for mobile computing devices including laptops but recently it has been used in various mobile applications, televisions, Digital cameras, and DVD players.

Wireless adaptor used in Wi-Fi transfers the data into a radio signal and into an antenna for users. It serves as an optical method tap into our home as well as an office with a high-speed internet connection.

Setup of wireless LAN comprises of certain components identical to traditional ethernet-wired LANs that are given below:

• User devices
• Radio NICs
• Access points
• Repeaters
• Routers
• Antennae

Wi-Fi network topologies are given below:

• Access Point AP-based topology
• Point-to-multi point bridge topology
• Star-based network topology
• Peer-to-peer topology
• Advantages of Wi-Fi
• Fast transmission rates
• Reliability
• Simple to integrate into any existing wired ethernet networks
• Simplify switches
• Provides Peak data speeds upto 11 MPS
• Reduce setup cost
• Reduce cable clutter
• Flexibility
• Mobility
• Device sharing

Wireless specifications depend upon the following standards:

802.11 a

802.11 b

802.11 c

Wi-Fi network is facing numerous security challenges such as confidentiality, integrity, authentication, eavesdropping and denial-of-service and many more.