How to Become a Wireless Security Auditor

Your country needs wireless security auditors! If you only ask yourself one question today, let it be this: Do you have the drive and initiative to become a wireless security auditor?

If you happened to say yes, then you’re on the right path so far. In my opinion, IT Security is where it’s at. Maybe I’m biased, but the career IS exciting. And specifically, being a wireless security auditor is something special in my mind. Because wireless requires you to be close to the access point, you get to travel around to all your engagements. It’s awesome, I don’t know of a single wireless security auditor who sits at a cubicle for more than a day a week. With me so far?

A Wireless Security Auditor is Super Smart

The first thing you need to do is study. Lots of studying. I’m not going to tell you to go to school or take this exam or that one.  Some of these security guys are all self-taught. What I’m saying is, in this industry, what matters is what you know. And it ends there. Walk into that interview and show the room you know what you’re taking about. As we say in the industry, “Don’t be a paper cert.” However, no matter what method of learning you undertake, one rule of them to keep in mind:

The ratio of hands-on learning to theory. Keep the hands-on training at around 80%.

Don’t get me wrong, THEORY is necessary, especially to produce a great wireless security auditor and not just a keyboard jockey. But let’s be honest, in the field, what matters most are results. If security experts can memorize charts of common TCP ports and types of viruses, worms, and trojans, but they cannot perform basic penetration testing, then they have failed. That’s the cold, hard truth. Just lean more toward hands-on and you’ll be fine.

Why Should You Become a Wireless Security Auditor?

Money isn’t everything, but the average salary for a wireless security auditor ranges from $60,000 upto $120,000 per year, more depending on experience and technical knowledge.

As you learn this stuff and take the time to actually read, follow tutorials (like the many free ones on this website), and do things hands on, you’ll start to have little “ahh ha” moments.

They will be infrequent at first but I promise you this: stick to it long enough and you will have one of these moments, and when you do, you’ll KNOW it. And they’ll come more frequently as time goes on and you continue to study. You’ll form more breakthroughs in your understanding.

You’ll deepen and broaden. And then you’ll have gotten it. You’ll be a wireless security auditor. And you know what else you’ll be? CONFIDENT! Enjoy all of the extra attention you get from this subliminal change in your behavior. But it will happen! Trust me, human nature is hardwired. Hard work pays off in the long run!

Once you do study up on this (for a long time and with great energy!) you will become armed with a keen understanding of attack methods and mannerisms. The very best wireless security auditor is the one who can analyze, attack, AND secure a wireless access point, finishing the IT Security Lifecycle full circle. You should strive to be like those guys.

You need to understand networking. Basic TCP knowledge. The best advice I can give you, that’s free, is to read up on all the different protocols from the Internet Engineering Task Force. These protocols come in the form of RFC documents.

Focus on the RFCs related to network security to get an understanding of TCP level protections. You will need to be able to read a TCP packet structure and analyze it. You will have to learn how to locate any malicious activity on any network. A wireless security auditor needs a shitload of tools to get the job done. But read up and get comfortable with IP tracing techniques and tools. Figure out where specific sources of traffic are coming from.

A wireless security auditor must offer protection against any possible attacks that might occur. Think of a wireless network like a football game. You need to develop a defense strategy from all angles. And I do mean all angles. Get creative? What if the mail guy slips into the building and jacks his laptop into the local network? Something like that happens and your entire digital security structure is bypassed.

Think especially about the security of the wireless network. You need to know how wireless security auditing is done in order to harden your own systems against the same attacks.

It will be a long process, but should you undertake the journey to becoming a wireless security auditor, you’ll reap great dividends for years to come. You’ll be able to walk into any organization and start auditing. Wireless security experts are in high demand throughout the world and studying up on this stuff will definitely help you. Choose your desired course and become a certified professional to make your future bright.

My free WiFi hacking tutorials are right here, totally free and a great place to start.