Rogue Access Point Detection
Find the access points that shouldn't be there.
Identification of unauthorized wireless access points that could provide attacker entry points or data exfiltration channels.
Overview
Rogue access points bypass all your perimeter security by creating unauthorized entry points into your network. They might be malicious—an attacker's evil twin or persistent implant—or simply an employee's personal hotspot bridging your network to the outside world. Rogue Access Point Detection identifies all wireless devices in your environment and determines which ones shouldn't be there.
What We Test
Our rogue access point detection engagements cover these key areas:
Unauthorized access points connected to your network
Personal hotspots and mobile device tethering
Evil twin access points impersonating legitimate networks
Wireless bridges and repeaters not in inventory
IoT devices with wireless capabilities
Hidden or low-power wireless transmitters
Our Approach
Rogue detection requires both wireless scanning and wired network correlation. A device transmitting your SSID isn't rogue if it's your access point—we identify truly unauthorized devices by correlating wireless and wired infrastructure data.
Wireless Enumeration
Scan all wireless frequencies to identify every transmitting device in and around your premises—access points, clients, and anything else broadcasting.
Infrastructure Correlation
Compare detected wireless devices against your authorized inventory. Identify any transmitting MAC addresses not in your official access point list.
Network Trace
For devices connected to your wired network, trace back to switch ports to identify physical locations and connected equipment.
Evil Twin Detection
Identify access points broadcasting your SSIDs that aren't your equipment—potential attack tools positioned to capture credentials.
Location Triangulation
For detected rogues, estimate physical location through signal strength analysis from multiple positions.
Risk Classification
Categorize each rogue by risk level—bridged to production network, broadcasting corporate SSID, or isolated personal device.
Common Findings
These are issues we frequently discover during rogue access point detection engagements:
Employee personal hotspots
Smartphones or portable hotspots connected to both cellular networks and corporate networks via USB or Bluetooth, bridging your network to the internet.
Shadow IT wireless devices
Consumer routers or access points installed by departments for convenience—often with default passwords and no security monitoring.
Forgotten test equipment
Access points from past projects, temporary setups, or testing still active and connected to production networks.
IoT devices with wireless
Printers, cameras, sensors, and other devices with wireless capabilities creating network access points IT didn't know about.
Neighboring network interference
While not 'rogues,' neighboring access points on conflicting channels or with similar SSIDs that could enable confusion attacks.
Common Questions
How do you distinguish rogues from legitimate access points?
Correlation with your infrastructure. We compare detected devices against your authorized inventory, trace MAC addresses through switch infrastructure, and verify management connectivity. Anything transmitting that shouldn't be is flagged.
Can you find access points that are turned off?
No. Wireless detection requires devices to be transmitting. However, we can identify ports configured for unauthorized devices on your switches, even if the device isn't currently active.
What if we have a legitimate need for the 'rogues' you find?
We'll help you bring them under management. A department's consumer router is a security risk; the same functionality through a properly managed access point addresses the need without the risk.
Do you check for devices outside our building?
Yes. Evil twin attacks are often positioned in parking lots or adjacent spaces. We survey the perimeter to identify any suspicious devices within range of your clients.
Other Wireless Security Testing Options
WiFi Infrastructure Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of your wireless network architecture, encryption, and access point configurations.
Wireless Penetration Testing
Active exploitation of wireless vulnerabilities including WPA/WPA2/WPA3 attacks and client-side wireless attacks.
Guest Network Isolation
Verification that guest wireless networks are properly isolated from production environments and sensitive resources.
Wireless IDS Evaluation
Testing of wireless intrusion detection systems to validate detection capabilities and alert effectiveness.
Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses?
Schedule a free consultation with our security experts to discuss your organization's needs.
Or call us directly at (445) 273-2873