WiMAX 802.16 Networks: Threats, attacks, and Solutions

El-Amin, Ahmed Mohamed; Rohiem, Alaa El -Din; Abd-Elwanees, Essam

doi:10.21608/iceeng.2012.32775

WiMAX 802.16 Networks: Threats, attacks, and Solutions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Military Technical Research center.

² Military Technical College.

10.21608/iceeng.2012.32775

Abstract

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is going to be an emerging wireless technology for the future. With the increasing popularity of Broadband internet, wireless networking market is thriving. Wireless network is not fully secure due to rapid release of new technologies, market competition and lack of physical infrastructure. In the IEEE 802.11 technology, security was added later. In IEEE 802.16, security has been considered as the main issue during the design of the protocol. However, security mechanism of the IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) still remains a question. WiMAX is relatively anew technology; not deployed widely to justify the evidence of threats, risk and vulnerability in real situations. This paper will address the security aspects of the IEEE 802.16 Standard and point out the security vulnerabilities, threats and risks associated with this standard and their countermeasures.