Patent ID: 8457594

Claim:
In a wireless network where users connect to the wireless network through one or more wireless access points, a system for preventing connection with an unauthorized wireless access points, comprising: an authentication server configured to: receive, from a user device, a password established by the user over a secure link prior to the user attempting an unsecured connection to the wireless network through a wireless access point, the secure link being a hardwired link between the user device and an authorized wireless access point; and provide the user-established password to each authorized wireless access point; and a user device configured to: receive, over the secure link, an authentication program; locate a wireless access point; request the user-established password when the user connects to the located wireless access point with the user device, after connecting to the authentication server over the secure link; attempt to authenticate the located wireless access point with the user-established password; determine, when the located wireless access point does not have the user-established password, that the located wireless access point is unauthorized; and transmit an alert to the authentication server, based on the determination that the located wireless access point is unauthorized, the alert identifying the located wireless access point as unauthorized.