Introducing Mobile Network Security Experiments to Communication Technology Education

Abstract

We describe a new viable lab assignment that enhances the theoretical study of wireless network security in our master-level communication technology education with hands-on mobile access network experimentation for the students. This new part is added to a well established student lab on wireless network security, by making use of low cost software defined radio devices and readily available open source software for experiments with one-cell GSM mobile access networks. The students can use their own smartphones. The overall objective of the lab is to support the students' practical understanding of the technical problems of building and managing wireless network security mechanisms. We report our findings and experiences from designing, constructing, testing and managing this lab assignment in the autumn semester of 2016.