Stumble across rogue wireless access points
Robert L. Bogue
Published: 26 Nov 2002 16:02 GMT
Installing NetStumbler and MiniStumbler
Installing NetStumbler is simple. You need only download the ZIP file from the NetStumbler Web site and unpack it into a directory. There's no installation program and no manual settings. NetStumbler just starts running when you double-click on the executable file. You will, however, need to make sure you've loaded the wireless network card drivers for your wireless LAN card. You'll have to create your own menu shortcut for NetStumbler or run it from the directory that you extracted it to.
To install MiniStumbler on your Pocket PC, make sure that your Pocket PC is docked. Download MiniStumbler from the NetStumbler Web site to the computer you've docked your Pocket PC to. Extract the downloaded executable to a temporary directory, and then use the Mobile Device folder in My Computer to move the file to the Pocket PC. Once MiniStumbler is on the Pocket PC, you can use File Explorer to launch MiniStumbler.
Running NetStumbler
By default, NetStumbler immediately starts scanning for beacons when you launch it. When NetStumbler starts, it creates a new file with the year, month, day, and 24-hour time listed serially without delimiters. For instance, if it's April 21, 2002, at 3:15 P.M., it will create a file called 200204211515. You can use this filename convention to help find data files created over the course of days or years.
Figure A shows the NetStumbler screen immediately after startup. As you can see at the bottom of the screen, this example workstation doesn't have an installed wireless card. I've intentionally not inserted the LAN card so you can see an empty list.
| Figure A |
 |
| NetStumbler starts up ready to scan. |
Connecting a GPS receiver
If you plan to connect a GPS to NetStumbler, you'll need to change the GPS options. To do so, click Options | GPS | Port. When the Port window appears, you should select one of the available COM ports. The protocol defaults to the NMEA protocol, which most GPS receivers can output. The speed is set to the NMEA default protocol of 4800 bps. The Garmin GPS III receiver that I used connected flawlessly. Of course, I had previously set the GPS receiver to the NMEA protocol.
Saving sessions
It's unlikely that you'll only use NetStumbler to find rogue access points in a single day. Before you shut down NetStumbler, save the session with the Save command on the file menu. Or, if you prefer, you can autosave the file by selecting the Options menu and then selecting AutoSave. A check mark will appear to the left of the entry when it's selected.
After you've saved a few files, you'll want to put them together. You can merge existing data into the current file by selecting File and then Merge.
MiniStumbler is very similar in its options and how it works. You run the program, set the GPS information, and go. MiniStumbler doesn't have all the features that NetStumbler has, but it does a splendid job of capturing access points, signal strengths, and locations that you can then move to the PC and merge together with NetStumbler.
Previous
Did you find this article useful?
105 out of 250 people found this useful
Digg
Slashdot
Del.ici.ous
Stumble
Reddit
