Wardriving to Analyse the Societal Impact of Wireless Networks - An Engineering Perspective

Portable information and communication devices these days are unimaginable without them, whether they are mobile devices, laptops, or other electronic gadgets. The evolution of wireless network technology began in the late 90s with IEEE's release of the 802.11 standard. Over the years, the technology has seen significant advancements, with subsequent standards like 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax. These standards have contributed to increased flexibility and efficiency in wireless communications. The wireless communication of these devices can be ensured by either a mobile service provider or a wireless network connection tied to infrastructures. Mobile communication solutions offer users flexibility and freedom from being tied to a specific location. However, the amount of usable data within these services limits their usability. In most cases, establishing wireless networks is associated with an infrastructure such as offices, homes, etc. This solution aims to extend the reach of wired networks while providing the flexibility of wireless communication devices. In addition to flexibility, various technological solutions assist users, and the costs of data traffic in wireless network implementations can be used unlimitedly in most cases, given the one-time cost of setting up the internet service tied to the infrastructure.