WIRELESS HACKS - 100 Cutting-Edge Techniques and Tools - (Second Edition)

Author: Robert Flickenger
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The use of wireless networks is expanding worldwide. Its ubiquitous connectivity is more of a norm than an exception—it serves hundreds of millions of users (usually for free), and all users need is a portable computer and a wireless network card to access the internet. However, achieving internet access is only half the battle in the wireless network war; the other half is to use as little wireless network hardware and software as possible under the same conditions, and currently, there are no clear signs of a winner in this half of the battle. This book has been thoroughly revised and expanded—bringing 35 all-new hacks, completely revisiting some hacks, and meticulously updating the rest. The new edition of Wireless Hacks offers readers knowledge gained through practical experience, as experts apply their expertise daily in real-world scenarios. Whether running Windows, Linux, or macOSX, readers will find practical techniques to extend network coverage, improve throughput, manage wireless resources, and achieve wireless network visualization. Learn how to accomplish the following:
- Stay connected anywhere using Bluetooth, mobile radio, mobile data networks, cell phones, Wi-Fi hotspots, GPS, and other external methods;
- Use wireless devices to achieve functions never imagined by their designers, and convert wired devices into wireless ones;
- Use practical methods to detect, analyze, and monitor your own wireless networks and publicly available networks;
- Extend network coverage and utilize the maximum possible wireless spectrum;
- Design and build your own wireless access points and antennas;
- Measure and design long-distance network links spanning several miles;
- Understand wireless network security issues and protect yourself and your users from unauthorized access and eavesdropping.
Do you need to extend your network to the other side of the office, across a large house, or to the other side of town? The hacks provided here don’t explicitly address this question, but "from the field" techniques will show you how to achieve such goals.
Author Bio: Rob Flickenger is a seasoned network administrator who has worked as a professional network administrator for over a decade. He can confidently say he is a versatile hacker. Rob enjoys sharing open-source networks, open standards, and lean code commonly used in general wireless networks. His current project is Metrix Communications LLC, which provides hardware and software resources for wireless networks, adhering to the open-source principles he advocates in his books. Rob also works with the United Nations and other international organizations, offering recommendations to improve communication infrastructure in regions with inefficient systems. Through all these efforts, Rob hopes to contribute to building a free, bandwidth-unrestricted global network. He is also the author of two other books in the O’Reilly series: Linux Server Hacks and Building Wireless Community Networks, with the latter now in its second edition.