Tracking down WiFi Access Points

[kazeakuma]

Hi all,

I've been doing some searching on the net but haven't been able to find much that can help me. I run the IT infrastructure at the on campus accomodation at a university. I've noticed a couple of wireless networks spring up (completely unsecured too) which are bridging to the local network. Given that there are also residential homes near some of the accomodation there is the risk that someone at home could inadvertantly access our network. While this isn't a huge security concern (everything critical is passworded etc, and come on it's a university), it's against the main computing policies of the uni, and thus my job to shut them down. The only problem is short of a door to door knock of the dorms (well over 1000 rooms, no thanks), I can't find anything that will help me track down the AP.

Is there anything out there that can help me locate these APs? Maybe a combination of tools that I can triangulate with, or even something that will at least give me a direction. Wandering around with a wifi signal tester is useless. As far as I can tell there is a couple of networks, and the buildings bounce the signals so much it's hard to tell which area the AP is in. Even then it leaves me with at least and entire dorm to search.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA

 

[moolman]

NARC... haha..

Anyway, why don't you try this, you can get the network card ID's for the computer's accessing the wireless AP's and then filter them out through the University system. When you get calls complaining that the internet don't work, you know who to go after.

Alex

 

[ktwebb]

First thing you need to do is write and apply a policy. Your air, your network etc.... Violaters will be dealt with. Then get your port sniffer out. There is probably an easier way but that is one of the ways you can find out what's going on.

Incidentally, only speaking from my perspective. I could take a laptop and something as simple as NetStumbler and find out where the AP is coming from. Certainly on the same floor and most likely within a couple of rooms. Bouncing signals or not. True enough, I've logged several hundred hours doing WLAN site surveys however IMO opnion it's not a dificult task to do what your saying you cannot do, pinpoint an AP signal. Just isn't that hard. For what it's worth.