What Is A Wireless Network?

A wireless network serves the same function that traditional networks do, which is to allow computers to share an Internet connection, as well as files, printers, and other hardware. Radio waves are used to carry data packets between computers as well as to a wireless router or access point that translates the radio waves back into Internet packets and sends them out to the Internet.

Wireless networks are actually easier to set up than traditional networks in most cases, and without the cables running to every computer and piece of hardware they tend to be more esthetically pleasing. Each computer and device requires a wireless adapter to get onto the network. These wireless adapters send and receive the radio carrier waves that are allowing the devices to communicate with each other and the Internet.

Wireless routers can cover about 100 feet in all directions, so most homes would only need one in a central location to serve every room in it. Larger homes and offices may need more than one router as walls and doors can interfere with the signal. Many homes have a wireless router in the attic and this serves the entire house without issue.

From a security perspective wireless networks tend to be more vulnerable to attack than traditional wired networks. This is for the obvious reason that all information communicated on the network is broadcast and can be received by anyone with a receiver within range. As an answer to this problem Wired Equivalent Privacy, or WEP, was created to encrypt data sent over wireless networks. This affords some level of privacy, but WEP may not offer business class security. Other protection methods such as Wi-Fi Protected Access, or WPA, have since been introduced to the market and have proven to be at least slightly superior to WEP.

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