Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi (short for "wireless
fidelity") is a term for certain types of wireless local
area network (WLAN) that use specifications in the 802.11
family. The term Wi-Fi was created by an organization called
the Wi-Fi Alliance, which oversees tests that certify product
interoperability. A product that passes the alliance tests
is given the label "Wi-Fi certified" (a registered trademark).
Originally, Wi-Fi certification
was applicable only to products using the 802.11b standard.
Today, Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard.
The 802.11 specifications are part of an evolving set of
wireless network standards known as the 802.11 family. The
particular specification under which a Wi-Fi network operates
is called the "flavor" of the network. Wi-Fi has gained
acceptance in many businesses, agencies, schools, and homes
as an alternative to a wired LAN. Many airports, hotels,web
designing company and fast-food facilities offer public
access to Wi-Fi networks. These locations are known as hot
spots. Many charge a daily or hourly rate for access, but
some are free. An interconnected area of hot spots and network
access points is known as a hot zone.
Unless adequately protected,
a Wi-Fi network can be susceptible to access by unauthorized
users who use the access as a free Internet connection.
The activity of locating and exploiting security-exposed
wireless LANs is called war driving. An identifying iconography,
called war chalking, has evolved. Any entity that has a
wireless LAN should use security safeguards such as the
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption standard, the
more recent Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), Internet Protocol
Security (IPsec), or a virtual private network (VPN). |
