Wi-Fi Intrusion from neighboring networks, how to stop the Nearest Neighbor Attacks
Wireless networks have traditionally been a weak point in corporate cybersecurity. However, what was once a localized risk, limited to an office space, has now evolved into a more sophisticated threat, making detection more difficult.
We’re talking about Nearest Neighbor Attacks, an attack method that allows cybercriminals to infiltrate a corporate network without needing to be on the premises. This intrusion tactic exploits vulnerabilities in nearby wireless networks, such as a neighboring office’s Wi-Fi, to gain lateral access to the target network. Once inside, hackers can compromise the network remotely by getting around controls such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and moving laterally to steal data or disrupt operations without being detected.
In the face of this evolving threat, businesses and managed service providers (MSPs) need to rethink their approach to wireless security. It is more critical than ever to deploy a solution capable of extending detection, prevention and response beyond the visible perimeter and which integrates your Wi-Fi environment as a key part of a unified and managed XDR strategy.
How to protect Wi-Fi with XDR and stop this threat in its tracks
Integrating Wi-Fi capabilities into an XDR solution allows organizations to stay one step ahead of Nearest Neighbor Attacks. It's no longer simply about connecting devices, but about transforming the wireless network into an active detection and response tool, as this enables you to:
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Detect and protect against rogue access points:
The corporate Wi-Fi environment can be compromised by unauthorized access points (APs) that act as a gateway for attackers. Early detection prevents company devices from connecting to fake networks, which can lead to unwanted access or data theft. For MSPs, detecting rogue access points improves operational efficiency by making it possible to monitor multiple environments from a single point.
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Detect and protect against evil twin threats:
When suspicious behavior is detected, the system can isolate the affected device, notify administrators and apply corrective measures from a single console. As an integrated solution, MSPs can offer this level of protection to multiple customers from a centralized environment, maintaining visibility, control, and operational efficiency for all.
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Block insecure connections in real time:
If a device attempts to link to a suspicious network, communication is automatically blocked. For businesses, this functionality reduces the end user's margin of error and protects sensitive data without compromising the connection experience. MSPs benefit from unified management during the blocking process or applying any necessary configuration adjustments.
Access points have become a key factor in shielding the wireless environment. By integrating them into an XDR platform, it is possible to gain full visibility into the wireless environment and turn it into an active source of intelligence. By acting as critical sensors, the APs collect real-time data, such as which SSIDs are present, encryption type, association patterns, and signal strength. When this data is processed and correlated with telemetry from other solutions such as endpoints, firewalls or authentication, it’s possible to detect anomalies that might otherwise appear legitimate.
An XDR solution checks the suspicious connection against data from other sources and detects clear discrepancies whenever a Nearest Neighbor Attack attempts to simulate the behavior of an authorized device. If it is mimicking another device, this tool can identify this through its behavior, physical location, or if attempts to access critical resources do not match its historical profile. XDR correlation provides much more accurate contextual assessment so that even well-camouflaged attacks can be detected and neutralized quickly. XDR can also orchestrate a coordinated response, which is a crucial defense tactic against attacks that rely on evasion through similarity or spoofing.
For MSPs, this represents an excellent opportunity to offer more comprehensive detection and response solutions. Adopting an XDR approach enables them to improve response times to complex threats and strengthen their customers' wireless security, without increasing management complexity.
If you want to learn more about how to improve Wi-Fi security for organizations, check out the following articles on our blog:
