Protecting Corporate Networks: WLAN Security Essentials Against Threats

All networks are susceptible to eavesdroppers and gatecrashers. The key difference between the WLAN industry and the larger Internet community is that wireless vendors understand they can no longer get by with half measures. WLANs are not inherently insecure. There is . . . All networks are susceptible to eavesdroppers and gatecrashers. The key difference between the WLAN industry and the larger Internet community is that wireless vendors understand they can no longer get by with half measures. WLANs are not inherently insecure. There is an explanation for why unauthorized individuals were able to wirelessly access corporate networks from parking lots: The people who installed WLANs at those firms never bothered to activate their built-in security features. Duh.

That's not to say WLANs don't pose unique security risks. Wireless hackers are hard to detect and trace, so WLANs are tantalizing targets. And employees unwittingly might compromise corporate security by attaching wireless access points to the corporate network without informing the IT department.