Mobile Wireless Network Survey System

The system enables researchers at the University of Turku to easily gather large amounts of data on wireless networks in use. This relatively small device was designed with portability and ease of use in mind. Made using common of the shelf components it is easy and cheap to replicate.

Goal Of the Project

The goal for this project was to build a portable device that can scan nearby Wi-fi, Bluetooth networks combine them with GPS data and save everything in a usable file. This is primarily designed for research purposes. One of the main requirements for the project was portability and ease of replication. This was achieved by using of the shelf easy to find components as well as free open-source software for capturing data. The devices relies on a simple power bank as a power source which can, depending on the power bank size, give around 6 to 8 hours of battery in continuous operation. It also utilizes python scripts to automate the operation of the devices, enabling the user to operate it by just one switch button. Data recovery is made easy by using a simple USB stick that can be easily accessed and plugged in to a laptop/desktop to retrieve the files.

Software Requirements

Software	Rationale
Kali Linux	Already in use in the existing set-up by the project owners
Kismet	Free open source well documented software

Hardware Requirements

Hardware	Rationale
Raspberry Pi 4 (4Gb RAM model)	Recommended by Kismet
Power bank	27,000 mAh is enough for 7 to 9 hours of continuous operation
USB drive	Enables easy file storage, file transfer by plugging it in a laptop
SD card Kingston 32 GB	Required for installing and running Kali Linux
WI-FI Adapter Alfa Network AWUS036ACM	Recommended by Kismet, for extending the Wi-Fi range of the device
GPS Receiver GM-3 N RU300	Recommended by Kismet, for adding GPS functionality to the device
BLE Sniffer Bluetooth 4.0 CC2540 USB	Recommended by Kismet, for extending the Bluetooth range of the device
Short USB Extensions (any)	For improving the dimensions and aesthetics of the device
Toggle Switch (any)	For easy operation of the device's services

Future development

In the future, this analysis and research is used by our customer in order analyzes and establish trends in wireless network security and it's adaptation by consumers as well as by companies.