Securing Your WiFi
and wait for the suckers to connect. They plant
password sniffers and sit-back while the PC e-mails
ssh passwords to them.
•Unauthorized access to a computer network becomes
a felony – Even casual access to an unsecured
wireless network in a hotel can destroy your
career. You can be arrested on-the-spot, even if
you have no criminal intent (other than stealing
their bandwidth, of course). In Canada, it’s
called Theft of Telecommunications.
•Sue the hapless wi-fi homeowner - Hacking victims
•Sue the hapless wi-fi homeowner - Hacking victims
now have a cause-of-action against the owners of
wireless networks that have been used as access
points to commit crimes. If you manage a computer
network, (even if it’s ole Aunt Sara’s) the wi-fi
cannot serve as an open-relay for bad guys. It’s
called “negligence”.
OK, are you paranoid yet?
OK, are you paranoid yet?
This should serve as a sobering note for unsecured
wi-fi owners. If someone taps-into your unsecured
wireless network to commit an attack, YOU are
responsible for the damages, under the "gross
negligence" doctrine. This is what happens when
they make wi-fi too easy, and granny unwittingly
becomes a “network administrator” when the lawyers
sue her for providing a portal for a hacker.
In most cases, your homeowner’s policy will cover
damages up to $250,000, but a major attack could
cause you to loose everything, including your house
and life-savings. For me, it’s not worth the risk.
Protect your wireless network with “real” security,
Protect your wireless network with “real” security,
and don’t just hop onto any unsecured wireless that
your computer detects.
Comments
Post a Comment