Watching wireless network traffic?

Just a quick question if anyone could help me?

I am currently using wireless networking with WPA-TKIP enabled on the
network (using a strong key). What is the likelihood of anyone in range
being able to monitor my network traffic and make any sense of it?

If this is possible, what software would I use to do this? As I would like
to try and monitor my own transmissions just to see what I get.

Thanks
John

"John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Just a quick question if anyone could help me?
>
> I am currently using wireless networking with WPA-TKIP enabled on the
> network (using a strong key). What is the likelihood of anyone in range
> being able to monitor my network traffic and make any sense of it?
>
> If this is possible, what software would I use to do this? As I would like
> to try and monitor my own transmissions just to see what I get.
>
> Thanks
> John
>

Looks like no-one is prepared to comment : - )

Steve wrote:
> "John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>Just a quick question if anyone could help me?
>>
>>I am currently using wireless networking with WPA-TKIP enabled on the
>>network (using a strong key). What is the likelihood of anyone in range
>>being able to monitor my network traffic and make any sense of it?
>>
>>If this is possible, what software would I use to do this? As I would like
>>to try and monitor my own transmissions just to see what I get.
>>
>>Thanks
>>John
>>
>
>
> Looks like no-one is prepared to comment : - )
>
>


John ...(E-Mail Removed)

Steve (E-Mail Removed)

[snip]

OK, I'll bite. There are certainly wireless cards and software out there
that can Sniff packets so if you're not using WEP/WPA then your passwords
etc. could be compromised. Google for details of packages and suitable
wireless cards.

If you're using WEP, how secure is this? Well even 128 bits is really only
about 104 (if I remember correctly) because US security (sic) requires that
some bits be fixed so it's easier for them to decrypt for policing. And if
they can do it, so can someone else!

Since the WEP key rarely changes, if at all, a Sniffer can obtain lots of
frames with the same key and then crack off-line later. If you've not
changed your key, they then come back and voila - data in the clear!

WPA is more secure since it's harder to figure out the key because both ends
of your wireless connection change the keys periodically and only the two
ends know the initial pass phrase and it SHOULD be hard to guess the next
key without knowing the initial key.

Can it be done? Of course it can. It would take longer and more
dedication. Is someone likely to be cruising your neighbourhood doing this?
Unlikely (unless the Feds suspect you of something ;-) ). There are plenty
of open, unsecured, access points out there so any criminal with half a
brain will target them first.

A quick web search will give you all the information you need to Sniff
frames and have a go at cracking. With a big PC I believe WEP keys can be
obtained with about 3 days processing but I'm far from an expert - just a
paranoid user!

Paul DS

Paul D.Smith wrote:
> [snip]
>
With a big PC I believe WEP keys can be
> obtained with about 3 days processing but I'm far from an expert - just a
> paranoid user!
>
> Paul DS
>
>

If there is sufficient Data transfer,say 500,000 packets for 128 bit
key.and using fudge factors it's more like minutes for WEP.Several
articles have been written on the subject and the s/ware is readily
available.I agree that most people won't bother attempting to use your
network if it has been secured but there are the curious.....
WPA is much harder,but again because people believe there is no such
thing as secure they will be looking at ways to crack all of it's
versions ,again there are tools available to try.
If someone is paranoid about security then he should hard wire his
home network and forget about wireless.
What I find more worrying are articles such as this
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4369891.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4354109.stm

[snip]
> What I find more worrying are articles such as this
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4369891.stm
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4354109.stm

If the owners are as "competent" as my father, then I'm not surprised. Only
when his machine ground to a halt and I removed 350+ items of spyware (OK,
many cookies but also lots of less innocuous stuff) did he start to get the
message!