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GSEC · Question #386

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the ability of attackers to eavesdrop on wireless communications?

The correct answer is B. Eavesdropping attacks can take place from miles away. Wireless eavesdropping is a passive attack that, with high-gain directional antennas, can capture signals from extremely long distances, even miles away.

Network Security

Question

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the ability of attackers to eavesdrop on wireless communications?

Options

  • AEavesdropping attacks cannot be performed through concrete walls.
  • BEavesdropping attacks can take place from miles away.
  • CEavesdropping attacks are easily detected on wireless networks.
  • DEavesdropping attacks require expensive devices.

How the community answered

(27 responses)
  • A
    7% (2)
  • B
    74% (20)
  • C
    4% (1)
  • D
    15% (4)

Why each option

Wireless eavesdropping is a passive attack that, with high-gain directional antennas, can capture signals from extremely long distances, even miles away.

AEavesdropping attacks cannot be performed through concrete walls.

RF signals at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz do attenuate through concrete, but they are not completely blocked, so eavesdropping through or near concrete structures is still feasible.

BEavesdropping attacks can take place from miles away.Correct

High-gain directional antennas such as Yagi or parabolic dish antennas can dramatically extend the effective range of a wireless receiver, enabling passive packet capture from distances measured in miles. Because eavesdropping is entirely passive - it only listens and does not transmit - it can be conducted from a great distance without alerting the target network. This makes range one of the most dangerous characteristics of wireless eavesdropping attacks.

CEavesdropping attacks are easily detected on wireless networks.

Wireless eavesdropping is a passive attack that generates no transmissions, making it extremely difficult or impossible to detect using standard wireless intrusion detection methods.

DEavesdropping attacks require expensive devices.

Effective eavesdropping can be performed with inexpensive commodity hardware and free open-source tools such as Wireshark combined with a standard wireless adapter in monitor mode.

Concept tested: Wireless eavesdropping range and passive attack characteristics

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Securing_Wireless_Networks_FINAL.pdf

Topics

#wireless eavesdropping#RF signal range#passive attack#wireless security

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