Detection of suspect wireless access points

Abstract

According to aspects of the present invention there are provided methods and apparatus for detecting a suspect wireless access point in a communication network including a plurality of wireless access points (110), (114) providing access services to client devices (106), (112). Identity information associated with the wireless access points is collected from a multiplicity of client devices (106), (112); (A1). A reputation request is received from a client device (A2), the request including identity information of an available wireless access point (A3). The received identity information is compared with the collected identity information (A4) for determining an indication of trust of the available wireless access point (A5). The indication of trust of the available wireless access point is transmitted to the client device (A6). The wireless access points may include a cellular wireless access point or base station, wireless access point, a Wi-Fi access point, or a femto-cell access point.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining the identity of a wireless access point providing access services to client devices. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing suspicious wireless access point detection. Background technique [0002] Criminals such as hackers are keen to exploit wireless access points so that they can maliciously steal sensitive information from or defraud client devices connected to the wireless access point. Some ways to exploit a wireless access point is to pretend to be the wireless access point and attack client devices connected to the "fake" wireless access point. Some of the most common attacks on client devices used by criminals are so-called "phishing" or "man-in-the-middle" attacks. [0003] A client device may include or represent any device used for wireless communication. Examples of client devices that may be used in certain embodiments o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While there are numerous solutions to the problem of detecting suspicious wireless access points in a corporate infrastructure, there are no publicly known solutions to the problem of detecting suspicious or rogue wireless access points in homes, cafes, airports, etc. Scenarios where users of client devices may unknowingly connect to a wireless access point and be maliciously targeted by phishing or targeted man-in-the-middle attacks

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