Possibility to differentiate / reject a network based on the power received level

[Tigrad]

Hello everyone,


I'm attempting to find a theory of wireless authentication or prove it using Backtrack. Basically, I believe it should be possible to differentiate a signal based on the powerlevel received and reject based on that level. You can overpower a lower powered wifi network with a higher transmit level, but can you still only authenticate the lower powered network because that is the power level you've always received at?


The basic information

- 1 wireless receiver. 1 normal wireless transmitter, 1 attacker wireless transmitter.
- Normal wireless transmitter is low power and close to the receiver. It always stays within roughly the same powerlevel (and it's got low signal strength ~e.g. 40%)
- Attacker wireless transmitter that is further away but transmits at a MUCH higher power level, moreso than the normal tramsmitter (e.g. >60%)

- Normal wireless transmitter doesn't change the power level, and is always received at 35%-45%.
- Attacker can change but cannot be close to the normal wireless transmitter.
- Same channel.



Can it be possible to filter out the higher powered attacking instrument based on the power level received values?

Thank you for your time

[JimRome]

My initial guess is "yes" assuming that the driver provides you with the strength of the signal. If you saw the same SSID but with two different average strength, you should be able to ignore the higher strength SSID. I can see lots of problems due to variables partially out of your control. For example, your proximity to the devices and intervening objects would change the relative strength you experience from your point of view. Depending on where you stand, you might see the lower power device as the biggest strength. Since tools like Kismit provide relative stength, the drivers must provide this information.