This document outlines how hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities in 802.11 wireless LANs and describes the widely available hacking tools. As a collection of already published risks to wireless LANs, this white paper is written to inform IT security managers of what they are up against. In order to effectively secure their wireless LANs, enterprises must first know the potential dangers. Information security managers and executives will gain an understanding of sophisticated attacks and the latest threats to wireless LANs.

This paper advocates a layered approach to wireless LAN security that goes beyond new encryption and authentication standards to include 24x7 monitoring to identify rogue wireless LANs, detect intruders and attacks, enforce network security policies and monitor the health of the wireless LAN.