Subject: [NEXTEL-1] Experts: Plan for wireless before rogue access points appear

From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2003 13:47:55 -0400

Experts: Plan for wireless before rogue access points appear
Tue Jun 24, 8:00 AM ET

Mia Shopis, SearchSecurity.com Assistant Site Editor

Many IT administrators may be surprised to learn that their enterprise (news
- web sites) has a wireless (news - web sites) local area network (LAN) in
operation -- and it's the kind of discovery that gives IT cold sweats.

There's no denying that wireless networks are
on the increase, especially with Starbucks,
airports, hotels and private individuals jumping
on the bandwagon and providing free access to
the willing. If a user can log on in a coffee shop
or catch someone else's access for free, why
can't it be done at the office?

Rogue wireless access points are a serious
security problem for IT administrators, however.
Wireless networks are fairly inexpensive and
easy to set up. Linksys, Siemens and D-Link
Systems all sell wireless routers for between
$65 and $200. So, instead of waiting for IT to
get around to it, workers are setting up their
own networks -- logging on, surfing and
downloading -- all under the nose of IT.

Wireless demand certainly puts security
administrators and IT managers in a bind. On
one hand, there are users clamoring for it, but
on the other, there remain serious security
issues. Encryption technology in WEP (Wired
Equivalent Privacy), which is based on static
keys that can easily be deciphered by a
talented hacker, puts sensitive data at risk. The
upcoming Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
standard implements different keys for each
packet, making it more secure. Still, most
enterprises are not planning for wireless deployments, but are reacting
instead, said Gartner Inc. analyst John Pescatore.

However, it's very clear that IT and network administrators are going to need
to add wireless LANs to their "to-do" list. Better to set up a network, a
security policy and education sessions first, before unsecured, rogue
wireless LANs pop up. Given the appropriate education, users can learn how
to safely use their mobile devices and protect their data from loss or theft.

"Don't assume that your devices are trustworthy, and make people aware of
this problem," said Gartner analyst John Girard.

In short, wireless LANs don't have to be a nightmare. With the proper
precautions, they can give workers greater mobility and be another secure
method of communication.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1632&ncid=1632&e=5&u=/techtarget/20030624/tc_techtarget/911444

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/Lj3uPC/Me7FAA/ySSFAA/61FxlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/