How Secure Is Your Wireless Network? Safeguarding Your Wi-Fi LAN

Stop the RF Bleeding

While we can't make the radio waves obey our command to stay inside the building, we can take steps to minimize the RF leakage outside the facility. APs placed closer to the interior of the structure will bleed out less then APs placed next to the windows. Directional antennas can be used to shape the energy pattern inside the building, instead of omni antennas that blast RF in all directions. (More information on antennas can be found in Appendix A.) Finally, it's possible to dial-down the transmit power on some higher-end APs. I recommend setting the transmit power to the lowest level available that still adequately serves the coverage requirements of the wireless clients. In this way, the principle of least privilege is ...