Chapter 11 — Wireless and network basics
Lesson map
Lesson 11 published. Map, example, EX041.
flowchart TD
N0["Learning outcomes"]
N1["11.1 The network"]
N2["11.2 Guest and staff wireless"]
N3["11.3 Unknown devices"]
N4["11.4 Router settings"]
N0 --> N1 --> N2 --> N3 --> N4
N4 --> EX["Worked example"]
EX --> Q["Exercise EX041"]
Logical drawing
flowchart LR
N0["Learning outcomes"]
N1["11.1 The network"]
N2["11.2 Guest and staff wireless"]
N3["11.3 Unknown devices"]
N4["11.4 Router settings"]
N0 --> N1 --> N2 --> N3 --> N4 --> Q["EX041"]
[Learning outcomes]
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v
[11.1 The network]
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v
[11.2 Guest and staff wireless]
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v
[11.3 Unknown devices]
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v
[11.4 Router settings]
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v
[Worked example] --> [Exercise EX041]
Learning outcomes
You will (1) describe a small business network; (2) separate guest and staff wireless; (3) spot unknown devices.
11.1 The network
Chloe draws the network at one Westfield centre: an internet router, a switch, tills, the office laptop, staff tablets, a guest wireless network for customers in the café and cameras. Mr. Appiah asks her to label which devices handle card payments, because those need the most protection. She marks the tills and payment terminals. She also marks the guest wireless and cameras, and lists every device with its location. Mr. Doyle checks her diagram against the router's list of connected devices and finds it complete except for one printer, which she adds. He keeps a copy of the diagram for the support company.
11.2 Guest and staff wireless
Customers use free guest wireless in the café. Chloe checks that the guest network is separate from the staff network, so a customer's device cannot reach tills or tablets. At one centre, the guest network uses the same password as staff wireless, and both connect to the same network. Mr. Doyle separates them and changes the passwords. Chloe tests the separation from a college laptop on the guest network. The test confirms the guest network can no longer reach any staff devices.
11.3 Unknown devices
Chloe looks at the list of devices connected to one centre's router, with Mr. Doyle's permission. She finds a device she cannot identify. Mr. Doyle discovers it is a smart speaker a staff member brought in for music. It was connected to the staff network. He moves it to the guest network. Chloe learns that unknown devices on staff networks should always be checked. She suggests a monthly check of connected devices at each centre, and Mr. Doyle agrees to do it during his regular visits. He also reminds staff to ask before connecting personal devices.
11.4 Router settings
Chloe checks the router settings with Mr. Doyle: the administrator password has been changed from the default, remote management from the internet is turned off and the router's software is up to date. One centre's router still has its default password. Mr. Doyle changes it. Mr. Appiah explains that default passwords are published online and are among the first things attackers try. Chloe records each router's settings in the network notes, and Mr. Doyle checks the other centres and confirms their routers are secure. He plans to check the settings again after any software update.
Worked example
Chloe draws a centre network, finds guest and staff wireless sharing a network and password, identifies a staff smart speaker and finds a router with a default password.
Synthetic case. Networks are synthetic.
Errors and limits
Guest devices on the staff network can reach tills and tablets.
Exercises
- EX041 — Payment devices. Which devices handle card payments? Rubric: 3 = tills and payment terminals;; 2 = partly correct;; 1 = other;; 0 = none.
- EX042 — Wireless problem. What was wrong at one centre? Rubric: 3 = guest and staff shared a network and password;; 2 = partly correct;; 1 = vague;; 0 = none.
- EX043 — Unknown device. What was the unknown device? Rubric: 3 = a staff member's smart speaker;; 2 = partly correct;; 1 = other;; 0 = none.
- EX044 — Router default. Why change default router passwords? Rubric: 3 = they are published online;; 2 = partly correct;; 1 = vague;; 0 = none.
Continue studying — lesson 11 (chapter 11 of 18)
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