Word of the Day: Wi-Fi August 9, 2004
IN THIS ISSUE: > Word of the Day: Wi-Fi > Today's Tech News > Brain Food > Additions and Updates WORD OF THE DAY: Wi-Fi http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci838865,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 Wi-Fi (short for "wireless fidelity") is a term for certain types of wireless local area network (WLAN) that use specifications in the 802.11 family. The term Wi-Fi was created by an organization called the Wi-Fi Alliance, which oversees tests that certify product interoperability. A product that passes the alliance tests is given the label "Wi-Fi certified" (a registered trademark). Originally, Wi-Fi certification was applicable only to products using the 802.11b standard. Today, Wi-Fi can apply to products that use any 802.11 standard. The 802.11 specifications are part of an evolving set of wireless network standards known as the 802.11 family. The particular specification under which a Wi-Fi network operates is called the "flavor" of the network. Wi-Fi has gained acceptance in many businesses, agencies, schools, and homes as an alternative to a wired LAN. Many airports, hotels, and fast-food facilities offer public access to Wi-Fi networks. These locations are known as hot spots. Many charge a daily or hourly rate for access, but some are free. An interconnected area of hot spots and network access points is known as a hot zone. Unless adequately protected, a Wi-Fi network can be susceptible to access by unauthorized users who use the access as a free Internet connection. The activity of locating and exploiting security-exposed wireless LANs is called war driving. An identifying iconography, called war chalking, has evolved. Any entity that has a wireless LAN should use security safeguards such as the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption standard, the more recent Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), or a virtual private network (VPN). RELATED TERMS: > 802.11 http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci341007,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 > 802.11b http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci892752,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 > hot spot http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci887196,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 > hot zone http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci996039,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 > Wi-Fi Protected Access http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci887323,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 ------------------------------------------------------------------- READ MORE ABOUT IT: > SearchMobileComputing.com provides an "802.xx Fast Reference." http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci992311,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 > The IEEE provides free downloads of all 802.11 specifications. http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html > Dell provides a white paper on "Deploying 802.11b (Wi-Fi) in the Enterprise Network." http://www1.us.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/vectors/en/2001_wireless_deployment?c=us&l=en&s=gen > The Wi-Fi Alliance has a Web site. http://www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/index.asp > JiWire provides a list of world-wide Wi-Fi hot spots. http://www.jiwire.com/?cid=31&kw=Wi-Fi&se=google -------------------------------------------------------------------- TECH NEWS .NET LEARNING GUIDE This SearchWebServices.com guide introduces you to .NET, explains best practices and pitfalls to avoid and provides troubleshooting help and advice. http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid26_gci995718,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 NEW TROJAN TARGETS PDAS | SearchSecurity.com Three weeks after the 29A virus group launched Duts, the first proof-of-concept virus for PDAs running PocketPC, a new Trojan horse is targeting the handheld devices. http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci998724,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884&ad=488834 FIVE CRITICAL PLANNING STEPS FOR WIRELESS LANS Our guide walks you through the five most important developments in wireless LANs and offers guidelines for product and technology selection. We'll help you avoid potential pitfalls to ensure that your wireless LAN implementation is successful from start to finish. http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid7_gci997034,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 MORE TECH NEWS Catch up on all the latest IT news! http://searchtechtarget.techtarget.com/gateway/news/0,294054,sid38,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884&ad=488834 ------------------------------------------------------------------- BRAIN FOOD SECRET WORD OF THE DAY Sounds like a firefighting vulpine -- but it's really a small, fast, and stable browser based on Mozilla. http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci993432,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884&offer=SWOD TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTION What's the name of a device that combines the functions of a network bridge and a router? http://searchcio.techtarget.com/gDefinition/0,294236,sid19_gci211707,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884&offer=ciofact ABBREVIATION/ACRONYM QOTD A BBS is a computer or an application dedicated to the sharing or exchange of messages or other files on a network. What does BBS stand for? a. Basic Board for Sharing b. bulletin board system http://searchsmallbizit.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid44_gci213807,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884&offer=QOTD -------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONS AND UPDATES CSMA/CA http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci998738,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 atomic storage http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid5_gci996291,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884&ad=488359 Wi-Fi http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci838865,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 802.11h http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci998741,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 brouter http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci211707,00.html?track=NL-34&ad=488884 ********************************************************************* Contact Us Sales For sales inquiries, please contact us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Editorial For feedback about any of our articles or to send us your article ideas, please contact us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ::::::::::::::::::::: ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER :::::::::::::::::::::: This e-newsletter is published by WhatIs.com, a targeted Web site from TechTarget, the most targeted IT media and events company. 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