Mesh network security: Shared Internet and shared risks

• Author:
• Author name

  Quantumrun Foresight
• January 25, 2023

Mesh networking was first introduced as a method to fix Wi-Fi problems such as insufficient coverage and slow speeds. Furthermore, it advertised that base stations would no longer need to be placed throughout homes or offices to avoid areas with bad reception. Those promises have, to a large extent, been kept. However, new cybersecurity concerns have cropped up.

Mesh network security context

Mesh networks are the ideal approach to establishing or upgrading an inadequate or out-of-date network or setting up a new one across more than one Wi-Fi gateway. The concept was first seen in the 1980s during military experimentation but wasn’t available for public purchase until 2015. The main reasons it became popular so late were cost, confusion regarding set-up, and a lack of radio frequency which made early implementations unsuccessful.

Since the mesh network’s commercialization, several firms and a few well-known hardware companies began selling pricey yet very powerful “mesh nodes.” These network devices have wireless radios that can be programmed to self-configure into an overlapping network without central management.

Nodes are the primary unit in mesh networking, not an access point or gateway. A node typically has two to three radio systems and firmware that lets it communicate with nearby nodes. By communicating with each other, nodes can build a comprehensive picture of the entire network, even if some are out of range from others. Client Wi-Fi adapters in phones, tablets, laptops, gaming systems, appliances, and other devices can connect to these nodes as if they were standard network gateways or access points.

Disruptive impact

In 2021, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched its proprietary mesh network, Sidewalk. This mesh network can only grow if there are enough user devices and if their owners trust Amazon with the data passing over their network. By default, Sidewalk is set to ‘on,’ meaning users must take action to opt out rather than opt in. 

Amazon has attempted to incorporate security into Sidewalk, and some analysts have praised its efforts. According to ZDNet, Amazon’s cybersecurity measures that protect data privacy are crucial in assuring potential users that their data is safe. In a world of increasingly interconnected smart devices, it has become easier for data to be leaked or hacked.

However, some analysts are also doubtful about how the tech firm plans to scale up these security measures. Although Amazon promises security and privacy to its users, experts suggest that companies with any Sidewalk-enabled device should opt out of the network. They also argue that individuals/households should consider taking similar precautions until researchers have had a chance to assess the technology’s implications. For example, a potential risk of mesh networks is that its members can be legally liable when another member commits cybercrimes through the network. 

Implications of mesh network security

Wider implications of mesh network security may include: 

• More tech firms and other third-party vendors offering mesh networks, competing with local governments.
• Increased investments in cybersecurity solutions specific to mesh networks since it would involve communal sharing of access points.
• Governments scrutinizing the cybersecurity measures of these mesh networks to ensure that they don’t violate data privacy laws.
• More secure connectivity in rural communities since they won’t have to rely on centralized service and cybersecurity providers.
• People being able to share their Internet bandwidths more securely with neighbors or friends within their respective mesh networks.

Questions to comment on

• If your neighborhood has a mesh network, what is the experience like?
• What are the other potential risks of sharing Internet access with others?