With the cyberattacks becoming more prominent, Wi-Fi security protocols for smart cities must shield against rogue Wi-Fi networks and guarantee robust encryption.
FREMONT, CA: Citywide Wi-Fi networks and Wi-Fi access are essential assets to smart cities and towns. Since public Wi-Fi has become so vulnerable to cyberattacks, network availability has started coming at a cost.
However, a big difference can be made by combining strong encryption and implementation in the way the citizens and visitors are kept safe by the cities.
Crushing rogue smart city Wi-Fi networks
The users can differentiate between a town’s Wi-Fi network and website landing pages by adding captive portal authentications. The fraudsters can easily duplicate these pages by inserting a code into the site itself. So, the most reliable option available is to implement a more pure authentication process on both sides.
This can be done via 802.1x, which adds an extra layer of user-authenticated security and builds a tunnel from that user to the point of access. Further, PKI certificates can be used by the cities to offer complete automated and secure connections. This is the most common public encryption mechanism. In this system, end-users and devices are uniquely identified by X.509 PKI certificates.
5G’s capability to secure Wi-Fi networks of the city
While techniques like Hotspot 2.0 protocols, which is an industry-wide accepted concept for making Wi-Fi roaming seamless is working, the market is marching towards 5G.
5G has a huge scope against conventional wireless service. The state governments have already begun their search beyond 5G and are talking about 6G and even 7G as cities are going to develop a network and build an infrastructure that can last for 30 years.
Why smart cities need public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi offers many possibilities for smart cities and supports local economies. As per the National Leagues of Cities, the economic-based cities around digital technologies are more likely to have less unemployment and poverty, and median income level and gross domestic product per capita of an urban area correspond to its internet sector’s strength.
The public Wi-Fi not only powers the Internet of Things devices but is also seen by the government as a technique to support states and cities bridge infrastructure gaps and assist them in preparing for natural disasters. It can be helpful in addressing income inequality by offering internet to citizens who cannot afford it.
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