Stealing the Network How to Own a Shadow

Stealing the Network How to Own a Shadow

Syngress, Paperback, Published February 2007, 448 pages, ISBN 1597490814

Stealing the Network: How to Own a Shadow is the final book in Syngress ground breaking, best-selling, Stealing the Network series. As with previous title, How to Own a Shadow is a fictional story that demonstrates accurate, highly detailed scenarios of computer intrusions and counter-strikes. In How to Own a Thief, Knuth, the master-mind, shadowy figure from previous books, is tracked across the world and the Web by cyber adversaries with skill to match his own. Readers will be amazed at how Knuth, Law Enforcement, and Organized crime twist and torque everything from game stations, printers and fax machines to service provider class switches and routers steal, deceive, and obfuscate. From physical security to open source information gathering, Stealing the Network: How to Own a Shadow will entertain and educate the reader on every page. The books companion Web site will also provide special, behind-the-scenes details and hacks for the reader to join in the chase for Knuth.

The best-selling Stealing the Network series reaches its climactic conclusion as law enforcement and organized crime form a high-tech web in an attempt to bring down the shadowy hacker-villain known as Knuth in the most technically sophisticated Stealing book yet. . As with previous title, How to Own a Shadow is a fictional story that demonstrates accurate, highly detailed scenarios of computer intrusions and counter-strikes. In How to Own a Shadow, Knuth, the master-mind, shadowy figure from previous books, is tracked across the world and the Web by cyber adversaries with skill to match his own. Readers will be amazed at how Knuth, Law Enforcement, and Organized crime twist and torque everything from game stations, printers and fax machines to service provider class switches and routers steal, deceive, and obfuscate. From physical security to open source information gathering, Stealing the Network: How to Own a Shadow will entertain and educate the reader on every page. The book;' companion Web site will also provide special, behind-the-scenes details and hacks for the reader to join in the chase for Knuth.

About the Authors

Johnny Long is a "clean-living" family guy who just so happens to like hacking stuff. Recently, Johnny has enjoyed writing stuff, reading stuff, editing stuff and presenting stuff at conferences, which has served as yet another diversion to a serious (and bill-paying) job as a professional hacker and security researcher for Computer Sciences Corporation. Johnny has written or contributed to several books, including Google Hacking for Penetration Testers, InfoSec Career Hacking, Aggressive Network Self-Defense, Stealing the Network: How to Own an Identity, and OS X for Hackers at Heart.

Tim Mullen (aka Thor) began his career in application development and network integration in 1984, and is now CIO and Chief Software Architect for AnchorIS.Com, a developer of secure enterprise-based accounting solutions. Mullen has developed and implemented network and security solutions for institutions such as the U.S. Air Force, Microsoft, the U.S. Federal Court systems, regional power generation facilities, and international banking and financial institutions. He has developed applications ranging from military aircraft statistics interfaces and biological aqua-culture management, to nuclear power-plant effect monitoring for a myriad of private, government, and military entities. Tim is also a columnist for Security Focus' Microsoft section, and a regular contributor of InFocus technical articles. Also known as "Thor," he is the founder of the "Hammer of God" security co-op group. Mullen's writings appear in multiple publications, such as Stealing the Network: How to Own the Box (Syngress, ISBN: 1-931836-87-6) and Hacker's Challenge, technical edits in Windows XP Security, with security tools and techniques features in publications such as the Hacking Exposed series and New Scientist magazine.

Ryan Russell (Blue Boar) has worked in the IT field for over 13 years, focusing on information security for the last seven. He was the lead author of Hack Proofing Your Network, Second Edition (Syngress, ISBN: 1-928994-70-9), contributing author and technical editor of Stealing The Network: How to Own The Box (Syngress, ISBN: 1-931836-87-6), and is a frequent technical editor for the Hack Proofing series of books from Syngress. Ryan was also a technical advisor on Snort 2.0 Intrusion Detection (Syngress, ISBN: 1-931836-74-4). Ryan founded the vuln-dev mailing list, and moderated it for three years under the alias "Blue Boar."

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Wi-Fi Toys 15 Cool Wireless Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment

Wi-Fi Toys 15 Cool Wireless Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment

409 pages | PDF | 8.9 Mb | RS $ MU

This ultra-cool volume invites readers to tap into your inner geek and build seventeen ultra-cool wireless devices including a solar powered access point, a wireless picture frame that dynamically changes its own photos, and even a wireless car-to-car audio and video system. This book provides readers with hands-on instruction and insider tips and tricks from those who are on the bleeding edge of wireless technology.
New addition to the ExtremeTech line of books-books for serious technophiles.

The world's gone wireless here's where it starts to get fun Wireless is all about freedom, freedom from cables, cords, plugs, and limitations. So why be limited to ready-made, cookie-cutter products? This book frees your imagination as it helps you create 15 exciting, individual projects using wireless technology. Each includes the necessary background, a list of materials, and step-by-step, illustrated instructions. Build a custom antenna, set up a car-to-car video link, or Wi-Fi your TiVo.

PART I: BUILDING ANTENNAS.

Chapter 1: Building Your Own Wi-Fi Antenna Cable.
Chapter 2: Building a Classic Paperclip Antenna.
Chapter 3: Building a Directional Tin Can Antenna.
Chapter 4: Modifying Your Access Point with a High-Gain Antenna.

PART II: WAR DRIVING—WIRELESS NETWORK DISCOVERY AND VISUALIZATION.

Chapter 5: Gearing Up for War Driving.
Chapter 6: War Driving with NetStumbler.
Chapter 7: Mapping Your War Driving Results.

PART III: PLAYING WITH ACCESS POINTS.

Chapter 8: Build Your Own Outdoor Access Point.
Chapter 9: Building a Solar-Powered Wireless Repeater.
Chapter 10: Creating a Free Wireless Hotspot.
Chapter 11: Playing Access Point Games.

PART IV: JUST FOR FUN.

Chapter 12: Wi-Fi Your TiVo.
Chapter 13: Create a Long-Distance Wi-Fi Link.
Chapter 14: Deploy a Car-to-Car Wireless Video Link.
Chapter 15: Making a Dynamic Wireless Digital Picture Frame.


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Wireless Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools

Book info:
Mission Critical Internet Security
by Bradley Dunsmore, Jeffrey Brown, Michael Cross
Technical editor: Stace Cunningham
Syngress Publication
ebook format: PDF
ISBN-10: 1928994202
ISBN-13: 978-1928994206


Book Description
The best security for a network segment is isolation, but that's not an option if you want your users to enjoy Internet connectivity. Mission Critical Internet Security explores your options for protecting your network from attack across the Internet, emphasizing firewall solutions from Cisco, Symantec, Microsoft, and Check Point. This book begins with general advice about how to set up a comprehensive system of defenses (comprising a firewall, an intrusion detection system, authentication and cryptography schemes, and protocols like IPsec). It concludes with information (this is the bulk of the authors' work) on the specifics of configuring several products.

You'll enjoy the war stories that appear as sidebars; they call your attention to common errors (and make you feel better if you've made them). You'll also appreciate the carefully considered question-and-answer sections that explain umpteen design alternatives (SOCKS proxy versus Winsock proxy, for example) and engineering challenges (one example: building an IPsec virtual private network between firewalls from different manufacturers). Product-specific sections on Microsoft Proxy Server, Cisco PIX, Symantec Raptor, and Check Point FireWall-1 include a lot of detail, and Syngress promises to keep up with manufacturer upgrades (via Web updates to this book) for at least a year. Worth its price for its conceptual information alone (particularly the IPsec part), this book will really please you if you're installing one of the firewalls it focuses on. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to protect a private network from outside intrusion, while allowing its users Internet access and connectivity via virtual private networks (VPNs). Particularly detailed coverage goes to IPsec, Kerberos, Cisco PIX, Symantec (formerly Axent) Raptor, Microsoft Proxy Server, and Check Point FireWall-1.

Product Description
The growth of the Internet and its reach into the fabric of business and personal life has outdistanced most organizations' ability to protect the confidentiality and integrity of information. The increased exposure and the constant escalation of threats to network security have increased the need for effective controls that can restore availability, confidentiality, and integrity to information systems. Mission Critical! Internet Security shows how security can be provided in TCP/IP at any layer, and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. This book will answer the questions you have about Internet Security, including:

* If I use protocol switching on my network, what protocol should I use in place of IP?
* Should I be placing my VPN gateway at the same level as my firewall?
* Can I use IPSec to secure communications with my Win 9x machines?
* Are there back doors in PGP?
* Would a firewall or other security product interfere with the IDS?
* How does SOCKS Proxy differ from WinSock Proxy?
* I am setting up my outbound access control lists to specify which traffic I will permit users to use. How do I know which TCP or UDP port a particular application uses?

Download Description
The growth of the Internet and its reach into the fabric of business and personal life has outdistanced most organizations' ability to protect the confidentiality and integrity of information. The increased exposure and the constant escalation of threats to network security have increased the need for effective controls that can restore availability, confidentiality, and integrity to information systems. Mission Critical Internet Security shows how security can be provided in TCP/IP at any layer, and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. --This text refers to the Digital edition.

Book Info
(Syngress Media) A text answering critical questions about Internet security, showing how it can be implemented at any TCP/IP layer. Aimed at computing professionals, coverage includes such such topics as using TCP or UDP ports for specific applications, securing communications using IPSec, and more. Softcover.
About the Author
Bradley Dunsmore (A+, Network+, i-Net+, MCDBA, MCSE+I, CCNA) is currently working for Cisco Systems in Raleigh, NC. He is a Technical Trainer in the Service Provider Division where he develops and issues training to the solution deployment engineers. He has eight years of computer experience, the last four in enterprise networking. Bradley has worked with Bell Atlantic, Adtran Telecommunications, and Electronics Systems Inc., a Virginia based systems intergrator. He specializes in TCP/IP and LAN/WAN communications in both small and large business enviroments.

Stace Cunningham (CMISS, CCNA, MCSE, CLSE, COS/2E, CLSI, COS/2I, CLSA, MCPS, A+) is a security consultant currently located in San Antonio, TX. He has assisted several clients, including a casino, in the development and implementation of network security plans for their organizations. He held the positions of Network Security Officer and Computer Systems Security Officer while serving in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, Stace was heavily involved in installing, troubleshooting, and protecting long-haul circuits, ensuring the appropriate level of cryptography necessary to protect the level of information traversing the circuit as well the circuits from TEMPEST hazards. This included American equipment as well as equipment from Britain and Germany while he was assigned to Allied Forces Southern Europe (NATO). Stace has been an active contributor to The SANS Institute booklet “Windows NT Security Step by Step.” In addition, he has co-authored or served as the Technical Editor for over 30 books published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill, Syngress Publishing, and Microsoft Press. He has also written articles for “Internet Security Advisor” magazine.

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Absolute Beginner Guide to WiFi wireless networking

Introduction

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi is a book for beginners who want to join the Wi-Fi revolution. Using easy-to-understand language, this book teaches you all you need to know about Wi-Fi, from choosing the Wi-Fi system that is right for you to adding a Wi-Fi card and related software to finding hotspots and access points. With the help of this book, you will be able to configure a home network and share internet connections quickly and easily. In addition, the book covers all important security issues so that a user is less exposed to threats, as well as the dos and don'ts of traveling with a Wi-Fi enabled laptop.

About the Author
Harold Davis is a strategic technology consultant, hands-on programmer, and the author of many well-known books. He has been a popular speaker at trade shows and conventions, giving presentations on topics ranging from digital photography through wireless networking and programming methodologies.

Harold has served as a technology consultant for many important businesses, including investment funds, technology companies, and Fortune 500 corporations. In recent years, he has been Vice President of Strategic Development at YellowGiant Corporation, Chief Technology Officer at an expert systems company, a Technical Director at Vignette Corporation, and a principal in the e-commerce practice at Informix Software.

Harold started programming when he was a child. He has worked in many languages and environments, and has been lead programmer and/or architect in projects for many corporations, including Chase Manhattan Bank, Nike, and Viacom.

He has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from New York University and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School, where he was a member of the law review.

Harold lives with his wife, Phyllis Davis, who is also an author, and their two sons, Julian and Nicholas, in the hills of Berkeley, California. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, and collecting antique machines including typewriters and calculation devices. He maintains a Wi-Fi access point and a mixed wired and wireless network for the Davis menagerie of computers running almost every imaginable operating system.

Introduction by the Author
If you are new to Wi-Fi—wireless networking—I'd like to be your guide to this wonderful technology. I am no industry flak or starry-eyed gadget freak (although I do appreciate technology that makes life easier for people, like Wi-Fi).

I want to be your guide to Wi-Fi, so it is fair for you to ask (and me to answer) some questions:

* What are my qualifications?

* What is my approach?

*Who is this book for, and why an "Absolute Beginner's Guide?"

I'd like to start with my qualifications. I take qualifications in this context to be a pretty broad issue, meaning (in part) who am I?

I am a normal human being, whatever that means, who is interested in technology (among other things). I have a wife, two kids, another one on the way, and a house with a mortgage. Besides my interest in technology, I like to read, write, garden, take photographs, and hike.

I've been involved in technology as a professional for more than 20 years. (Because technology years actually compare with dog years, that probably is the equivalent of hundreds of experiential years!) I've seen technologies come on strong, grow up, mature, and burst like a star that has gone nova too soon. I like to think I know what is important, and what is not, and what technologies matter.

I've been involved with Wi-Fi since its infancy, and have lectured about Wi-Fi and taught people how to construct Wi-Fi networks. I maintain a Wi-Fi network in my home for the convenience of myself and my family. I've been a road warrior and a stay-at-home. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with people and helping them get up to speed as quickly as possible.

Well, enough about me! Perhaps you are completely new to Wi-Fi and want to quickly get up to speed so you can surf at local hotspots, or while you're on the road. This book will give you the practical information you need to buy the right equipment, get your equipment working perfectly, find Wi-Fi hotspots, and get the best deal with Wi-Fi providers.

Perhaps you already use Wi-Fi in your local coffee shop, at the airport, or in hotel lobbies, and you want to set up a small office or home network. You already know how great Wi-Fi is, so you want to enjoy the benefits where you live and work. It is truly transformational to one's lifestyle to decouple computing from the wires!

If you are looking to set up a Wi-Fi network, you've come to the right place. I'll show you the best way to buy the equipment you need at the best prices, and how to set it up easily. I won't gloss over potential pitfalls, and I will save you time and money. I'll also show you some of the considerations you might want to think about if you are building a more complex network involving Wi-Fi.

Many people are looking to find out how to use Wi-Fi on the road, or in networks at home. An Absolute Beginner's Guide provides the perfect format for easily learning what you need to know to get up to speed with Wi-Fi, without wasting a lot of time.

In this book you'll find inspiration as well as practical information. I believe that Wi-Fi is a modest technology that has the power to have a huge and positive impact. Some of the items I've included in this book speak to that transformational power. For example, you'll learn how villages in southeast Asia use Wi-Fi on the fly to connect to the world, and how Wi-Fi was used to bring wireless networking to Pitcairn Island, a romantic flyspeck in the South Pacific Ocean (remember Mutiny on the Bounty?). You'll also learn about war chalking, and find out how to locate free Wi-Fi hotspots.

This is wonderful material, and it's lots of fun! So what are you waiting for? It's time to Wi-Fi!

How This Book Is Organized

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi is organized into five main parts, as follows:

*Part I, "Why Wi-Fi?" is a general introduction to the Wi-Fi technology and using Wi-Fi. This part explains why Wi-Fi is one of the fastest-growing technologies of all time and why it is important to all computer users.

*Part II, "Setting Up Your Computer for Wi-Fi" explains how to buy a Wi-Fi–enabled computer, shows you how to set up your computers to work with Wi-Fi, and surveys some of the cool Wi-Fi gizmos and gadgets that are available.

*Part III, "Going Mobile with Wi-Fi" shows you how to use your Wi-Fi laptop or PDA on the road, explains the best road warrior tools to bring, teaches you how to find the best places to connect, and gives you tips on making the best deal with Wi-Fi service providers.

*Part IV, "Creating a Wi-Fi Network" explains everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask about successfully setting up and managing a wireless network in your home or small office.
*Part V, "Securing Your Wi-Fi Computer and Network" explains how to safely and securely deploy Wi-Fi on the road and at home.

Besides the 19 chapters in five parts in this book, I've also provided several really useful appendixes:

*Appendix A, "Wireless Standards" provides more details about the ins and outs of the 802.11 wireless standards.

*Appendix B, "Finding Wi-Fi Hotspots" shows you how to find Wi-Fi hotspots, and provides specific information (which is hard to find in one place) about Wi-Fi locations such as airports, hotels, and retail stores. This appendix alone is worth the price of this book!

Because Wi-Fi rests at the intersections of a number of technologies—wireless broadcasting and computer networking, to name two—it is replete with jargon and technical terminology. To help you hack your way through this morass of incomprehensible techno-babble and acronym soup, I've also provided a complete glossary.

Taken together, the 19 chapters, two appendixes, and glossary in Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi provide all the information you need to Wi-Fi successfully and happily!
Conventions Used in This Book
Although it is my hope that you can figure out everything in this book on your own without requiring an instruction manual, it makes sense to mention a couple of points about how information is presented in this book.

Web Addresses

There are tons of Web addresses in this book, mostly because these are places you can go for further information on a variety of related topics. Web addresses are denoted using a special font. For example:

www.wi-fiplanet.com

You should also note that in most cases I omitted the http:// with which Web addresses technically start (Web browsers insert it anyhow, so there is no need to type it).

Special Elements

This book also includes a few special elements that provide additional information not in the basic text. These elements are designed to supplement the text to make your learning faster, easier, and more efficient.

Tip

A tip is a piece of advice—a little trick, actually—that lets you use your computer more effectively or maneuver around problems or limitations.

Caution

A caution will tell you to beware of a potentially dangerous act or situation. In some cases, ignoring a caution could cause you problems—so pay attention to them!

A note is designed to provide information that is generally useful but not specifically necessary for what you're doing at the moment. Some are like extended tips—interesting, but not essential.

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Wi-Fi Home Networking

Describes the costs,benefits and necessity of networking.Reviews
software networking tools that save money for small-time operators.Summarizes business expenses and savings to help a prospective

user choose their office setup.Offers criteria for deciding on
distribution media.Compares wireless versus wired connections.Includes important,practical information about security,viruses,and backing up

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Absolute Beginner Guide to WiFi Book Free Download

Introduction
Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi is a book for beginners who want to join the Wi-Fi revolution. Using easy-to-understand language, this book teaches you all you need to know about Wi-Fi, from choosing the Wi-Fi system that is right for you to adding a Wi-Fi card and related software to finding hotspots and access points. With the help of this book, you will be able to configure a home network and share internet connections quickly and easily. In addition, the book covers all important security issues so that a user is less exposed to threats, as well as the dos and don'ts of traveling with a Wi-Fi enabled laptop.

About the Author
Harold Davis is a strategic technology consultant, hands-on programmer, and the author of many well-known books. He has been a popular speaker at trade shows and conventions, giving presentations on topics ranging from digital photography through wireless networking and programming methodologies.

Harold has served as a technology consultant for many important businesses, including investment funds, technology companies, and Fortune 500 corporations. In recent years, he has been Vice President of Strategic Development at YellowGiant Corporation, Chief Technology Officer at an expert systems company, a Technical Director at Vignette Corporation, and a principal in the e-commerce practice at Informix Software.

Harold started programming when he was a child. He has worked in many languages and environments, and has been lead programmer and/or architect in projects for many corporations, including Chase Manhattan Bank, Nike, and Viacom.

He has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from New York University and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School, where he was a member of the law review.

Harold lives with his wife, Phyllis Davis, who is also an author, and their two sons, Julian and Nicholas, in the hills of Berkeley, California. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, and collecting antique machines including typewriters and calculation devices. He maintains a Wi-Fi access point and a mixed wired and wireless network for the Davis menagerie of computers running almost every imaginable operating system.

Introduction by the Author
If you are new to Wi-Fi—wireless networking—I'd like to be your guide to this wonderful technology. I am no industry flak or starry-eyed gadget freak (although I do appreciate technology that makes life easier for people, like Wi-Fi).

I want to be your guide to Wi-Fi, so it is fair for you to ask (and me to answer) some questions:

* What are my qualifications?

* What is my approach?

*Who is this book for, and why an "Absolute Beginner's Guide?"

I'd like to start with my qualifications. I take qualifications in this context to be a pretty broad issue, meaning (in part) who am I?

I am a normal human being, whatever that means, who is interested in technology (among other things). I have a wife, two kids, another one on the way, and a house with a mortgage. Besides my interest in technology, I like to read, write, garden, take photographs, and hike.

I've been involved in technology as a professional for more than 20 years. (Because technology years actually compare with dog years, that probably is the equivalent of hundreds of experiential years!) I've seen technologies come on strong, grow up, mature, and burst like a star that has gone nova too soon. I like to think I know what is important, and what is not, and what technologies matter.

I've been involved with Wi-Fi since its infancy, and have lectured about Wi-Fi and taught people how to construct Wi-Fi networks. I maintain a Wi-Fi network in my home for the convenience of myself and my family. I've been a road warrior and a stay-at-home. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with people and helping them get up to speed as quickly as possible.

Well, enough about me! Perhaps you are completely new to Wi-Fi and want to quickly get up to speed so you can surf at local hotspots, or while you're on the road. This book will give you the practical information you need to buy the right equipment, get your equipment working perfectly, find Wi-Fi hotspots, and get the best deal with Wi-Fi providers.

Perhaps you already use Wi-Fi in your local coffee shop, at the airport, or in hotel lobbies, and you want to set up a small office or home network. You already know how great Wi-Fi is, so you want to enjoy the benefits where you live and work. It is truly transformational to one's lifestyle to decouple computing from the wires!

If you are looking to set up a Wi-Fi network, you've come to the right place. I'll show you the best way to buy the equipment you need at the best prices, and how to set it up easily. I won't gloss over potential pitfalls, and I will save you time and money. I'll also show you some of the considerations you might want to think about if you are building a more complex network involving Wi-Fi.

Many people are looking to find out how to use Wi-Fi on the road, or in networks at home. An Absolute Beginner's Guide provides the perfect format for easily learning what you need to know to get up to speed with Wi-Fi, without wasting a lot of time.

In this book you'll find inspiration as well as practical information. I believe that Wi-Fi is a modest technology that has the power to have a huge and positive impact. Some of the items I've included in this book speak to that transformational power. For example, you'll learn how villages in southeast Asia use Wi-Fi on the fly to connect to the world, and how Wi-Fi was used to bring wireless networking to Pitcairn Island, a romantic flyspeck in the South Pacific Ocean (remember Mutiny on the Bounty?). You'll also learn about war chalking, and find out how to locate free Wi-Fi hotspots.

This is wonderful material, and it's lots of fun! So what are you waiting for? It's time to Wi-Fi!

How This Book Is Organized

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi is organized into five main parts, as follows:

*Part I, "Why Wi-Fi?" is a general introduction to the Wi-Fi technology and using Wi-Fi. This part explains why Wi-Fi is one of the fastest-growing technologies of all time and why it is important to all computer users.

*Part II, "Setting Up Your Computer for Wi-Fi" explains how to buy a Wi-Fi–enabled computer, shows you how to set up your computers to work with Wi-Fi, and surveys some of the cool Wi-Fi gizmos and gadgets that are available.

*Part III, "Going Mobile with Wi-Fi" shows you how to use your Wi-Fi laptop or PDA on the road, explains the best road warrior tools to bring, teaches you how to find the best places to connect, and gives you tips on making the best deal with Wi-Fi service providers.

*Part IV, "Creating a Wi-Fi Network" explains everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask about successfully setting up and managing a wireless network in your home or small office.
*Part V, "Securing Your Wi-Fi Computer and Network" explains how to safely and securely deploy Wi-Fi on the road and at home.

Besides the 19 chapters in five parts in this book, I've also provided several really useful appendixes:

*Appendix A, "Wireless Standards" provides more details about the ins and outs of the 802.11 wireless standards.

*Appendix B, "Finding Wi-Fi Hotspots" shows you how to find Wi-Fi hotspots, and provides specific information (which is hard to find in one place) about Wi-Fi locations such as airports, hotels, and retail stores. This appendix alone is worth the price of this book!

Because Wi-Fi rests at the intersections of a number of technologies—wireless broadcasting and computer networking, to name two—it is replete with jargon and technical terminology. To help you hack your way through this morass of incomprehensible techno-babble and acronym soup, I've also provided a complete glossary.

Taken together, the 19 chapters, two appendixes, and glossary in Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi provide all the information you need to Wi-Fi successfully and happily!
Conventions Used in This Book
Although it is my hope that you can figure out everything in this book on your own without requiring an instruction manual, it makes sense to mention a couple of points about how information is presented in this book.

Web Addresses

There are tons of Web addresses in this book, mostly because these are places you can go for further information on a variety of related topics. Web addresses are denoted using a special font. For example:

www.wi-fiplanet.com

You should also note that in most cases I omitted the http:// with which Web addresses technically start (Web browsers insert it anyhow, so there is no need to type it).

Special Elements

This book also includes a few special elements that provide additional information not in the basic text. These elements are designed to supplement the text to make your learning faster, easier, and more efficient.

Tip

A tip is a piece of advice—a little trick, actually—that lets you use your computer more effectively or maneuver around problems or limitations.

Caution

A caution will tell you to beware of a potentially dangerous act or situation. In some cases, ignoring a caution could cause you problems—so pay attention to them!

A note is designed to provide information that is generally useful but not specifically necessary for what you're doing at the moment. Some are like extended tips—interesting, but not essential.


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Building Wireless Community Networks Book Free Download

Building Wireless Community Networks is about getting people online using wireless network technology. The 802.11b standard (also known as WiFi) makes it possible to network towns, schools, neighborhoods, small business, and almost any kind of organization. All that's required is a willingness to cooperate and share resources. The first edition of this book helped thousands of people engage in community networking activities. This revised and expanded edition adds coverage on new network monitoring tools and techniques, regulations affecting wireless deployment, and IP network administration, including DNS and IP Tunneling.

New in This Edition
The most important addition to this book is the inclusion of Tim Pozar's excellent paper, "Regulations Affecting 802.11 Deployment." Tim is a microwave communications engineer and ham radio operator, and he has done terrific work in exploring the labyrinthine FCC Part 15 regulations. His paper helps us all to understand exactly what is required to operate wireless equipment legally in the United States.

I will also take a look at relevant technologies that have recently entered the wireless networking world, including 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.1x. While 802.11b is still widely regarded as the champion technology of the community wireless networking effort, these newer technologies are poised to bring interesting new capabilities to networking projects everywhere.
In addition, I discuss a number of fun new home-brew equipment and software designs that have come to light, and evaluate some new security tools (and challenges). In particular, the Host AP driver has graduated to near-production quality, and can provide a very flexible alternative to traditional APs. More on that later.

Organization
Early chapters of this book introduce basic wireless concepts and essential network services, while later chapters focus on specific aspects of building your own wireless network. Experienced users may prefer to skip around rather than read this book from cover to cover, so here's an overview of each chapter:

Chapter 1

gives a brief history of the state of wireless connectivity, and some ideas (and warnings) about how things might proceed.

Chapter 2

is an overview of many important logistical considerations you will face in designing your own network, and describes some tools that may make your job easier.

Chapter 3,

provides a detailed description of critical network components that you will need to provide your users. Network design and security considerations are also addressed.

Chapter 4,

details how to use Wireless Access Point hardware effectively in your networking project.

Chapter 5,

is a step-by-step guide to building your own Access Point using Linux, inexpensive PC hardware, and conventional wireless client cards.

Chapter 6,

is about extending your range. It looks at using topographic mapping software to evaluate long distance links, and examines the myriad antennas, cables, connectors you are likely to encounter. It also provides a simple method for calculating the usable range of your gear.

Chapter 7,

investigates some really exotic (and useful!) applications of 802.11b. It includes practical pointers for setting up point-to-point links, some simple repeaters, assembling a 2.4GHz antenna from ordinary household objects, and lots of other fun hackery. We'll also see an implementation of a dynamic "captive portal" firewall using open source (http://www.opensource.org) software.

Chapter 8,

is a resource guide to some of the major players in the wireless network access revolution. Here you'll find out how people all over the globe are making ubiquitous wireless network access a reality, all in their free time.

Chapter 9,

is the (brief) history of my own experiences in setting up a wireless community network in Sebastopol, CA (and in meeting directly with the heads of some of the biggest community efforts in the U.S.).

Appendix A contains Tim Pozar's paper, "Regulations Affecting 802.11 Deployment."
Appendix B provides a path loss calculation table.
Appendix Coffers a shell script that makes network scheme management easier.

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