Wireless Insecurity
I'm confused about the growing wireless network industry.
All in all, it seems like an unsafe way to do business. Proponents of wireless LANs talk about setting up "hotspots" in places like Starbuck's where PDA and laptop users can go to download their email or access company web sites. But the guy at the next table could be monitoring the entire WLAN with his laptop. Hackers can use almost the same sniffer software that they use to spy on and hack into cable-based LANs.
According to the latest issue of WLAN Watch , the most frequent WLAN policy violations include:
1) Unsanctioned or rogue access points
2) Unsanctioned Wireless Workstations
3) Ad Hoc Networks
4) Access Points advertising slow and unsafe data rates
5) Access points configured for both VPN and open
authentication
6) Accidental Associations with neighboring access points
7) Nonstandrad WLAN access cards
8 ) Default or improper SSIDs
9) Insecure Windows XP settings
10) Off-hours traffic
I'd like to know others' opinions on this issue.
Thanks,
mairving posted this at 02:28 — 28th May 2003.
They have: 2,256 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
Personal opinion is that Wireless is still a work in progress similar to broadband (DSL and Cable) several years ago. Most users didn't quite understand that having an always on connection was not a secure environment. They were merely thrilled because they could download stuff really quick. It is the same with Wireless. People think it's great that they can access the Internet while sitting outside. Well they don't realize that their neighbor can also use their connection as well.
Wireless is getting there. It justs takes time.
Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states
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