Resolves Issue #67 and HAS comment 28.

A wired network interface transmits data via a specific physical medium such as Ethernet cable, fibre optic cable, coaxial cable or power lines. A wireless network interface transmits data in a manner that does not require a specific medium, such as radiofrequency waves or visible light communication through the air. A virtual network interface transmits data through software within the memory of a host system, sometimes across a software-defined network fabric.

Wireless network interfaces often have an independent real-time operating system on the network interface itself. Wireless medium access often requires real-time response to manage the radio frequency transmissions properly. The network interface must also prevent improper settings of radio frequency transmission parameters, which is often implemented by having the internal firmware set the parameters, rather than exposing them to the host. The complexity of this firmware may increase the risk of a wireless interface.

Wireless network interfaces often have an independent real-time operating system on the network interface itself. Wireless medium access often requires real-time response to manage the radio frequency transmissions properly. The network interface may also need to prevent improper settings of radio frequency transmission parameters, which is often implemented by having the internal firmware set the parameters, rather than exposing them to the host. The complexity of this firmware may increase the risk of a wireless interface.

A virtual network interface emulates the device driver interface of a network interface to a host's device driver API. Instead of a physical network interface, it may send and receive packets to a hypervisor, a container, another device driver, another part of the network stack, an application, or other software.