| | |  | Certification Central | Home » » Wireless Hacks: Tips & Tools for Building, Extending, and Securing Your Network | | | | | | | Description: | | The popularity of wireless networking has grown exponentially over the past few years, despite a general downward trend in the telecommunications industry. More and more computers and users worldwide communicate via radio waves every day, cutting the tethers of the cabled network both at home and at work. Wireless technology changes not only the way we talk to our devices, but also what we ask them to do. With greater flexibility, broader range, and increased mobility, wireless networks let us live, work, and think differently. Wireless networks also open up a vast range of tasty new hack possibilities, from fine-tuning network frequencies to hot-rodding handhelds. The second edition of Wireless Hacks, co-authored by Rob Flickenger and Roger Weeks, brings readers more of the practical tips and tricks that made the first edition a runaway hit, selling nearly 30,000 copies. Completely revised and updated, this version includes over 30 brand new hacks, major overhauls of over 30 more, and timely adjustments and touchups to dozens of other hacks introduced in the first edition. From passive network scanning to aligning long-distance antennas, beefing up wireless network security, and beyond, Wireless Hacks answers real-life networking needs with direct solutions.
Flickenger and Weeks both have extensive experience in systems and network administration, and share a passion for making wireless more broadly available. The authors include detailed coverage for important new changes in specifications and in hardware and software, and they delve deep into cellular and Bluetooth technologies. Whether you need your wireless network to extend to the edge of your desk, fit into your backpack, or cross county lines, the proven techniques in Wireless Hacks will show you how to get the coverage and functionality you're looking for.
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Rob Flickenger | | Paperback:
| 464 pages | | Publisher:
| O'Reilly Media | | Publication Date:
| November 22, 2005 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0596101449 | | Package Length:
| 8.82 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.98 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.5 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 20 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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 Old and dated but some good ideasFeb 18, 2010
This book was initially published in 2003 and reprinted in 2005 according to the description in the front of the book. There is some good information but it is now in 2010 and more of a history lesson than a usable book on wireless networking. Most of the network "sniffers" and utilities are relatively old. There is a lot of Linux code from the early days before GUI's. The newest technology in the book is the the Linksys WRT54G router which came out as a "G" router many years ago. So, I'm sure it was good in 2003 but not a usable book for me, back to Amazon you go....
 Extremely NecessaryOct 05, 2008
This book is essential to who works security problems out in wireless networks. All tips are very useful and the most of them is a real find.
1 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Lame BookMar 30, 2008
This book had some usefull information. That's the best review I could give it. I'm a Windows person like 99.9% of the world and less than 1/3 of the hacks can be used with windows. If you are not a Linux Power user and if you don't know the programming langauage Pearl you are in the dark. This book is also to general, going into Cellular technology, and 802.11x technology and more. I found this a big waste of time nothing more than an over view of the technology.
ExcellentOct 10, 2007
Covers a wide range of platforms, linux, mac, wireless, cell phones, etc and gives a lot of fun little hacks to play with and learn from.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Collection of 100 clever wireless short-cutsJan 03, 2007
This book is about getting the most out of your wireless networking hardware and software. In this book, you will find practical techniques for extending range, increasing throughput, managing wireless resources, and generally making your wireless networking vision a reality. Remember that reality is what you can get away with, and wireless hackers have found that they can get away with quite a lot using surprisingly little. This book will show you some of the best bits of their collected experience. You can browse this book since each hack stands on its own. The following details the table of contents:
Chapter 1, Bluetooth, Mobile Phones, and GPS - The last couple years have brought hundreds of millions of tiny battery-powered wireless devices to market. Some will get you an Internet connection just about anywhere with mobile phone service, while others keep your devices connected to the "last 10 feet," and some cover the whole globe. This chapter demonstrates some uses for these technologies, which will keep your devices and yourself connected, without wires.
Chapter 2, Network Discovery and Monitoring - This chapter will give you the tools you need to detect the presence of wireless networks, coordinate spectrum usage to avoid interference, and visualize network performance. It also covers a number of advanced data-monitoring techniques to pinpoint networking issues and even get an idea of your users' online habits.
Chapter 3, Wireless Security - This chapter explores the current standards for securing wireless networks and suggests several strong methods for protecting yourself and your wireless users from abuse.
Chapter 4, Hardware Hacks - This extensive chapter tells you how to push wireless hardware to the limits, extending range and increasing performance and efficiency. It presents a large collection of components, along with sources and recommendations on how best to use them.
Chapter 5, Software Hacks - There would be no such thing as wireless networks without software, which ranges from the firmware that powers wireless cards and routers to the drivers required for those cards, up to general-purpose operating systems that can be used to build your own wireless access point, router, and firewall. This chapter covers all these topics.
Chapter 6, Do-It-Yourself Antennas - This chapter presents several home-brew designs for wireless networking made by contributors from all over the world. These are practical, tested designs that can significantly extend the range of your wireless network.
Chapter 7, Wireless Network Design - This chapter is a collection of techniques to help simplify the job of building wireless networks that cover the area you require.
Appendix A, Wireless Standards - This appendix will give you a good idea of what problems each wireless technology is designed to solve, their relative strengths and weaknesses, and how to make the best possible use of each to fulfill your communication needs.
Appendix B, Wireless Hardware Guide - This appendix provides a comprehensive list of wireless equipment retailers.
This second edition was published in November 2005, and this edition is almost a complete rewrite of the first edition published in 2003. Thus all lists of hacks prior to November 2005 are invalid for this second edition.
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