Enhancing Public Wi-Fi Security Through Digital Certificate Authentication

Coughlan, Niall (2023) Enhancing Public Wi-Fi Security Through Digital Certificate Authentication. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The proliferation of devices allowing access to the internet has created a corollary need for network access at a wide variety of locations. There is an expectation that many businesses, such as cafés and hotels, will provide Wi-Fi to their customers. This has led to the availability of public Wi-Fi networks to cater to these customers. However, the security provided by these networks is often lacking, and users may not realise the risks to which they are exposing themselves when connecting to public networks, with the potential for their data to be compromised. This research project examined the risks posed to users of public Wi-Fi networks and proposes a method of authenticating users to public Wi-Fi, which provides greater protection to users than other commonly used methods. This method was subjected to penetration testing, using techniques and tools which are most likely to be used during the course of real-world attacks. These tests were also performed against other Wi-Fi security methods, to provide a comparison that demonstrates both the lack of attention given to securing public Wi-Fi networks, and the possibility of defending these weaknesses.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email Ul Mustafa, Raza UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > Electronic computers. Computer science T Technology > T Technology (General) > Information Technology > Electronic computers. Computer science T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering > Telecommunications > Computer networks Q Science > QA Mathematics > Computer software > Computer Security T Technology > T Technology (General) > Information Technology > Computer software > Computer Security
Divisions:	School of Computing > Master of Science in Cyber Security
Depositing User:	Tamara Malone
Date Deposited:	22 Oct 2024 10:22
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2024 10:22
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/7114

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