# Module 4.1: Wireless scanning

Let's start with your wifi connection.

you already know how to hold option and the apple signal to get data, try the iwifisignal app installed on the elab macs:

<figure id="bkmrk-screen-shot-2025-09-">![Screen Shot 2025-09-10 at 11.18.18 AM.png](https://bookstack.kamuela.org/uploads/images/gallery/2026-09/UUZfcAZzxNk6FMxN-screen-shot-2025-09-10-at-11-18-18-am-nrgfbhy6.png)<figcaption>Screen Shot 2025-09-10 at 11.18.18 AM.png</figcaption></figure>  
What do you see here that you don't see elsewhere?<div id="bkmrk-what-are-the-differe">What are the different levels of security? WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3?</div><div id="bkmrk-what-are-the-physica">What are the physical bands?</div><div id="bkmrk-try-scanning-with-yo">Try scanning with your own (newer) laptop, or look under "about this Mac" to see what other bands your laptop is capable of using.</div><div id="bkmrk-next-try-wifi-explor">  
<div>Next try wifi explorer:</div><div><figure>![Screen Shot 2025-09-10 at 11.19.53 AM.png](https://bookstack.kamuela.org/uploads/images/gallery/2026-09/fcidsF3jjddZXuLD-screen-shot-2025-09-10-at-11-19-53-am-q9hi1t43.png)<figcaption>Screen Shot 2025-09-10 at 11.19.53 AM.png</figcaption></figure>  
As a hacker, what do you have here that you don't have before? After setting up your own wifi, what do you see here that you can do to improve the security of yours?</div><div>How could you use this tool and the OUI lookup tool online to get into a network?</div><div>Is there a site that lists all of the default passwords for access points? Find it and lookup a few from your scans...</div><div>  
</div><div>Try joining a wireless network then use some of the scanning tools you already know:</div><div>

- IP net monitor
- network radar
- iNet scanner
- IP scanner
- network kit

<div>Some technical details:</div></div></div><div id="bkmrk-wifi-uses-one-of-thr">Wifi uses one of three radio bands: </div><div id="bkmrk-2.4-ghz%3A-long-range%2C">

- 2.4 gHz: long range, lower data rates, stopped by water, wet leaves, humans
- 5.8 gHz: shorter range, higher data rates, goes through water better
- 6 gHz: very short range, humongous data rates, no issues with water

<div>Signal and noise:</div></div><div id="bkmrk-try-talking-with-som">Try talking with someone who is in the shower: you can hear them, they can't hear you-why?</div><div id="bkmrk-same-signal-%28speech%29">Same signal (speech) but your noise level is lower (high signal to noise ratio).</div><div id="bkmrk-shower-person-has-hi">Shower person has high noise, same signal, low signal to noise ratio.</div><div id="bkmrk-this-is-crucial....">This is crucial....</div><div id="bkmrk--1">  
</div><div id="bkmrk-mimo%3A-multiple-in%2C-m">MIMO: multiple in, multiple out and other ways access points "steer" radio beams</div><div id="bkmrk-if-many-people-are-o">If many people are on the same access point, the AP has to keep steering beams to everyone, overloading it.</div><div id="bkmrk-if-some-users-are-at">If some users are at the limit of range (fringe users) this slows the entire network slows down: "can you hear me now?"</div><div id="bkmrk--2">  
</div><div id="bkmrk-setting-up-wifi-netw">Setting up wifi networks:</div><div id="bkmrk-look-at-the-spectrum">

- look at the spectrum diagram
- notice any overlaps
- change the channel on your AP so that it is not overlapping
- re-check your signal levels

<div>Questions:</div></div><div id="bkmrk-how-will-this-enable">

1. How will this enable you to improve the wifi at home?
2. What did you learn doing this that can improve your user experience?
3. How many "illegal" wireless networks did you find on campus?
4. Please email screenshots of what you find

<div>Catching up:</div></div><div id="bkmrk-make-sure-you-have-c">

- Make sure you have completed the cyber challenge #1
- Make sure you have completed the router setup challenge

<div>If you are ready for a deeper dive into setting up wifi networks, pick one of the mikrotik devices and see if you can configure it for a wifi network and NAT to your inside machine </div></div><div id="bkmrk--3">  
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<small>Migrated from Apple Server Wiki. Original page ID: 31L2K5g</small>