1.1 Introduction
Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) mechanism to provide confidentiality and integrity of traffic in the WLAN and is used at the two lowest layers of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model, data link and physical layers; thereby, it does not offer end-to-end security. WEP depends on a secret key shared between the communicating parties (mobile station and AP) to protect the payload of a transmitted frame in each direction. Moreover, the RC4 PRNG algorithm used by WEP includes an integrity check vector (ICV) to check the integrity of each packet.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The WEP protocol was introduced in 1997 but was plagued by several security issues. Standards bodies began discouraging its use in the early 2000s, as more effective standards were introduced. WEP attempted to limit access to wireless network data in the same way wired local area networks (LANs) protect data. Users with physical access to the network access points are the only ones with access to wired networks. Wireless networks like Wi-Fi depend on encryption protocols like WEP to prevent unauthorized access to network data (Techtarget, 2021).
Physical security mechanisms protect a wired LAN to some degree. For example, controlled access to a building prevents outsiders from walking in and plugging their devices into the LAN. Outsiders can gain access to WLANs via the radio waves that connect to the network (Techtarget, 2021).
The Wired Equivalent Privacy protocol adds security similar to a wired network's physical security by encrypting data transmitted over the WLAN. Data encryption protects the vulnerable wireless link between clients and access points. After WEP secures wireless data transmissions, other LAN security mechanisms can ensure privacy and data confidentiality. These include password protection, end-to-end encryption, virtual private networks and authentication. These weaknesses doomed WEP. Most standards bodies deprecated the protocol soon after the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) protocol became available in 2003 (Techtarget, 2021).
The challenges encountered that led to the execution of the research work is that, the size of Initialization Vector (IV) is short and can be reused, Authentication related issue which uses one way authentication, Lack of Key Management, same keys is used for longer duration, No session key is established during authentication, No replay protection, Attacker can easily crack the key and can manipulate the data, Flooding cause denial of service attack and Easy forging of authentication message.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals the problems of the Infusion of Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) to Data Transmission Wirelessly research work, which entails that the size of Initialization Vector (IV) is short and can be reused, Authentication related issue which uses one way authentication, Lack of Key Management, same keys is used for longer duration, No session key is established during authentication, No replay protection, Attacker can easily crack the key and can manipulate the data, Flooding cause denial of service attack and Easy forging of authentication message.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to designate a system that will infuse a Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) to Data Transmission Wirelessly. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to design and develop a system that will:
- Present an analysis of the most efficient and used security protocols implemented to overcome the security problem of Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP),
- Determine the nature of Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) that supports Wireless Data Transmission,
- Establish the connection of Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) in application software system,
- Determine the type of Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) in application software system.
1.5 Significance of Study
The study will provide a theoretical and conceptual appraisal of Infusion of Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) to Data Transmission Wirelessly and will serve a reference point of information to IT consultants and professionals. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge in this field of study and provide a basis for further research.
1.6 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Infusion of Wireless Equivalent Protocol (WEP) to Data Transmission Wirelessly in an application software system.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.8 Definition of Terms
Wireless Internet Networks: The unprecedented increase in access to telephone services growth has been driven primarily by wireless technologies and the liberalization of telecommunications markets, which allowed for faster and cheaper roll out of mobile networks.
Agent: The software that runs on a managed network device and implements the information and / or management functionality of a management system.
Managed Device: Any network device that is capable of participating in a network management system
Management Information Base (MIB): A hierarchical specification of the managment data on a managed network device.
Management Station: The software that sends requests to agents and receives traps on behalf of an administrator or management software.
Network-Management System (NMS): A complete hardware and software system that monitors and manages a network.
Application Programming Interface: In computer programming, an application programming interface (API) is a set of subroutine definitions, protocols, and tools for building application
Basic Object Adapter: Basic Object Adapter (BOA) is an interface intended to be widely available and to support a wide variety of common object implementations.
Common Gateway Interface: In computing, Common Gateway Interface (CGI) offers a standard protocol for web servers to execute programs that execute like Console applications (also called Command-line interface programs) running on a server that generates web pages dynamically.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): A network protocol that is part of the internet protocol suite used to send and receive network management information.
Trap: Asynchronous messages sent by agents to managers. May be used for alerts or event notifications; also known as notification.
