Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

Which technology should be implemented on a wireless network to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks?

1. Regular password changes

2. Mutual Authentication

3. Hiding the network SSID

4. Using static IP addresses

The correct answer is: Mutual Authentication

Mutual authentication is a vital technology for securing a wireless network against man-in-the-middle attacks. This approach requires both the client and the server to verify each other's identities before establishing a connection. In a typical wireless environment, if only the client authenticates to the access point, an attacker could intercept the communication by posing as a legitimate access point. By implementing mutual authentication, the client not only verifies the identity of the access point, but the access point also confirms the client's credentials. This mutual verification greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access and man-in-the-middle scenarios, as attackers would find it significantly more challenging to masquerade as a legitimate device on the network. Other options, such as regular password changes, might enhance security but do not inherently prevent the risks associated with man-in-the-middle attacks. Hiding the network SSID can obscure the network but does not prevent sophisticated attacks, and using static IP addresses does not contribute to authentication processes. Hence, mutual authentication stands out as an essential measure to ensure that both parties in a wireless communication can trust each other, significantly bolstering the network's defense against such attacks.