Source: Government Computer News - Posted by Eric Lubow
Imagine your agency’s wired network infrastructure. Now imagine it again without wires. A wireless LAN comprises many parts, but when they work together they create a communications infrastructure as secure as your traditional LAN. Building a secure wireless network requires attention to detail. Here’s a partial list of questions you should ask when requesting proposals for your agency’s WLAN.
Source: Government Computer News - Posted by Eric Lubow
Like other types of information technology, wireless networks offer a mix of benefits and security threats. While the potential threats are enough to make security officers cringe, the user benefits are enough to make them lay out their own cash to set up access. Like it or not, agencies had better be prepared to install and secure a wireless LAN or people will start looking to deploy one of their own. “You are battling the fact that people can purchase and deploy a wireless network easily,” said Stan Gatewood, information security officer for the University of Georgia at Athens. “They can go downtown and buy an access point for under $50.”
One of the greatest new features for laptop users in Ubuntu is network-manager. With this shiny new application it is finally easy to connect your Ubuntu system to any wireless network. Where previously you had to jump through hoops to do WPA or 802.1x authentication, network manager makes this completely transparent.
Wireless LANs are challenging traditional network conventions and making existing security systems obselete, according to Aruba Networks CEO Dominic Orr. The increasing prevalence of WLAN equipment and the advent of the 100+Mbps 802.11n standard, is making wireless connections a routine part of companies' network infrastructure, Orr said. And this fact is forcing a review of traditional network authentication and security.
Source: TheRegister.co.uk - Posted by Benjamin D. Thomas
California legislators have passed a law which will force makers of wireless internet equipment to include guidance on keeping data secure on wireless connections. The law now awaits signature by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
From 1 October 2007, manufacturers must place warning labels on all equipment capable of receiving Wi-Fi signals, according to the new state law. These can take the form of box stickers, special notification in setup software, notification during the router setup, or through automatic securing of the connection. One warning sticker must be positioned so that it must be removed by a consumer before the product can be used.
Desktop security can have many meanings depending on whose definition is being used. Ask a common user what their definition of desktop security is and you may get responses such as anti-virus software is installed or username and password authentication is in place. That user will probably be the same one that turns around and disables the anti-virus software because it slowed down their machine too much and will write their username and password on a post it and put it under their keyboard. Pose the same question to members of management and you may have gotten a response such as the corporation’s commitment to information security is of the highest priority and then they will turn around and cut budget proposals for security measures.
Source: Tom's Hardware.co.uk - Posted by Benjamin D. Thomas
If you think seeing a dozen wireless networks makes your computer the ultimate scanning box, think again. A small security firm has made a portable computer that is capable of scanning 300 networks simultaneously. Dubbed the "Janus Project", the computer also has a unique "Instant Off" switch that renders the captured data inaccessible.
The computer is the brain-child of Kyle Williams from the Janus Wireless Security Research Group in Portland, Oregon. We first spotted Williams sitting quietly and sipping Mountain Dew at the recently held Defcon security convention at the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. While it appeared as if Williams wasn't ver busy, the bright yellow Janus computer in front of him was scanning and capturing data from hundreds of wireless networks in range.
I love projects that start off with a definite need – however daft it might be ! This one came about because the 802.11 chili can antennas we built were a bit of a pain to mount and point at various 802.11 access points. I thought it would be handy to build a steering platform that allowed the antenna to hunt for the strongest access point itself and zero in ! OK, here are the details…..
Source: Computer World - Posted by Efren J. Belizario
If you are like most people, your home or small office wireless router probably is running without any encryption whatsoever, and you are a sitting duck for someone to easily view your network traffic.
Any business traveler who has logged on to a wireless network at the airport, printed a document at a hotel business center or checked e-mail messages at a public terminal has probably wondered, at least fleetingly, “Is this safe?”
