Keeping Wi-Fi Connections Safe and Secure
Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity, is a global standard for wireless equipment. Most commercial laptops have an option for a certified Wi-Fi adapter, or else it comes as standard equipment. The connection speed is fantasticas fast as or faster than cable modems.
Using Wi-Fi technology is similar to using a cell phone, except the cells are called hotspots and you use a computer for communication instead of a phone. There are currently nearly 100,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in 96 countries around the globe. The country with the greatest number of hotspots is the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan. The top five Wi-Fi cities in the world are London, Tokyo, New York, Paris, and Singapore.
Most hotspots are offered by companies or services where a person is already a paying customer, such as at hotels, cafes, or ISPs. There are even a lot of free hotspots available in public places and restaurants, but free access to hotspots may not last very long. As more ISP companies get on the bandwagon they will be putting together service packages with guaranteed access to certified Wi-Fi-serviced areas. On the free (non-certified) areas, there is no guarantee of service; you get what you pay for.
Wi-Fi hotspots present a whole new set of security issues due to many unknown computers sharing the same local network. Public hotspots usually do not use any encryption protocols or security functions, because providers feel such tools would negate the "public" aspect of hotspots and would require customers to go through hoops to get connected. Therefore, the data customers send out from public hotspots can be intercepted by just about anyone. Still, there are several basic things that can be done to protect sensitive transmissions:
Rogue access points in public areas have been springing up that connect directly to hijackers' databases to collect passwords, usernames, and even credit card data. Dont connect in places where there is no sign for a legitimate provider. Don't set your wireless card to connect automatically to any available network. Turn off the ad-hoc mode, and turn off your Wi-Fi card entirely as soon as you are done. It may sound simplistic, but be extremely careful when typing in your name and password at a public access point location.
As with most good things, there will always be those who want to take advantage of others, and Wi-Fi technology is no exception. Every time you log on to a public Wi-Fi access point, you are transmitting your login name and password over open airwaves, and perhaps even credit card information as well. Since public networks and hotspots are increasing globally, the opportunity is also growing for thieves to capture that data and use it for nefarious purposes.
Industry surveys have shown that many public and private Wi-Fi networks use no encryption at all, meaning that anyone with a laptop and a Wi-Fi card could intercept data packets being sent or received by legitimate users. All that is needed is the ability to sniff out the airwaves to locate data packets. There are dozens of easily downloadable utilities available to provide this function, and most people who use them are just harmless hobbyists called "wardrivers," who drive around looking for networks to joinbut some have malicious motives.
Wireless networks obviously have a lot to offer, but how can a company ensure that private data remains private? Thankfully, there are many options available for making a wireless network safer. Although no network can be 100% secure, it is possible to prevent the majority of hackers from getting access to confidential information, and all it costs is a little time and effort. There are numerous freeware and shareware encryption programs. Use passwords for sensitive files and folders, as well as for access to your computer as a whole.
When you connect to a public wireless network you are joining a local network with other unknown computers. To protect your computer you should run a personal firewall program, such as Zone Labs ZoneAlarm and Kerio's Personal Firewall, to restrict what traffic is allowed into and out of your computer. Make sure you take the time to familiarize yourself with the product you choose and configure it properly to get the maximum protection without getting in the way of legitimate traffic and applications.
Also, when you connect to a public network you have no assurance that the other machines on the network with you are protected against viruses and other malicious code. Suddenly it is more important than ever to have antivirus software installed, and be sure to update the virus definitions at least once a week.
By learning how to implement Wi-Fi technology into their business processes, people can increase productivity and extend their global reach. But care must be taken to ensure safe wireless transmissions, in order to protect vital business data and keep it private.
