A beacon flood attack is a type of denial-of-service (DoS) attack that targets wireless networks. In a beacon flood attack, the attacker sends a large number of fake beacon frames to a wireless network. These beacon frames contain information about fake wireless networks, such as their SSIDs and BSSIDs. When wireless clients scan for available networks, they will see the fake networks and may attempt to connect to them. However, the fake networks are not real, so the clients will be unable to connect.
Beacon flood attacks can be used to disrupt the availability of a wireless network, or to prevent wireless clients from connecting to a legitimate network. They can also be used to collect information about wireless clients, such as their MAC addresses and IP addresses.
To defend against beacon flood attacks, wireless networks should be configured to use a strong authentication mechanism, such as WPA2-PSK. Wireless clients should also be configured to only connect to networks that they trust.
Here are some additional ways to defend against beacon flood attacks:
- Use a wireless intrusion detection system (IDS) to detect and block malicious beacon frames.
- Configure your wireless access points to only broadcast beacon frames on specific channels.
- Use a wireless network scanner to identify and remove rogue access points.
- Keep your wireless firmware up to date.
How to Protect Yourself from Beacon Flood Attacks
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from beacon flood attacks:
- Use a strong password for your wireless network.
- Enable WPA2-PSK or another strong encryption method.
- Keep your wireless firmware up to date.
- Use a wireless intrusion detection system (IDS) to monitor your network for malicious activity.
- Be aware of the symptoms of a beacon flood attack, such as a slow or unstable wireless connection.
If you think you may be under attack, you should disconnect from your wireless network immediately and contact your network administrator.
