The A to Z of security

Wi-fi

Wireless internet has been helping unchain workers from their desks and getting rural areas of the country online. It's also given silicon.com columnist Peter Cochrane a virtual pipe down which to dispatch his latest missive.

But it's not all a bed of roses.

Security from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more...

A is for Antivirus
B is for Botnets
C is for CMA
D is for DDoS
E is for Extradition
F is for Federated identity
G is for Google
H is for Hackers
I is for IM
J is for Jaschan (Sven)
K is for Kids
L is for Love Bug
M is for Microsoft
N is for Neologisms
O is for Orange
P is for Passwords
Q is for Questions
R is for Rootkits
S is for Spyware
T is for Two-factor authentication
U is for USB sticks/devices
V is for Virus variants
W is for Wi-fi
X is for OS X
Y is for You
Z is for Zero-day

As wireless networks proliferate and the use of wi-fi becomes more widespread, there are implications for security as regards both the integrity of a corporate network that incorporates wi-fi, and the risk of using external wi-fi - via free hotspots and the like - to conduct corporate business when outside the office.

Earlier this year fears arose over rogue wi-fi hotspots that could be used to steal corporate data from unwary wireless users. But corporate wi-fi networks can themselves be vulnerable to hackers if they do not use data encryption or a security key for the network.

According to research by RSA Security, reported in May, 26 per cent of wireless networks used by business networks in the City of London are unsecured, and 22 per cent of access points still have default settings, making them vulnerable to hackers.

Intellectual property theft is another risk when it comes to unsecured wi-fi. Back in February, a leading City law firm warned companies could face huge legal costs over unguarded use of public wi-fi networks, saying: "The country's hotels and waiting rooms are full of people rummaging through the contents of each others' laptops."

On the hardware side wi-fi has also proved a bit of a thorn in the side of computer makers. A vulnerability in the Apple AirPort driver software shipped with wireless cards for PowerBooks and iMacs was identified earlier this month. And last month Apple owned up to a trio of flaws that could allow Macs to be hijacked over wi-fi. Meanwhile, at the start of this year, Microsoft admitted there is a flaw in the way Windows handles wi-fi connections.