Wireless (Wi-Fi) Networks Increase the Challenges of Internet Security

Like so many technologies before it, wireless TCP/IP networks (especially WiFi/802.11 networks) were implemented and marketed without much consideration for the increased computer security risks that broadcasting your network traffic to the world might entail.

As any code-breaker knows, one of the best ways to reverse engineer coded messages is to compare lots of these messages to find common patterns. Early WiFi security, specifically WEP encryption, fell to this well known technique, because it re-used encryption keys. As any spy worth his martini and Aston Martin knows, you should never reuse your encryption keys if you want to keep your secrets safe.

Yet, WEP did exactly this, so a patient hacker needs only to listen in on your WEP traffic long enough to discover the (reused) encryption keys. At least WEP prevents casual computer users with no expertise from logging into your network by simply posting up close enough to your base station to detect your WiFi signal. Just add a Pringles potato chip can to your setup, and you can detect Wifi signals hundreds of meters from the source. That's not a problem in any urban (and most suburban) areas.

In short, wireless networks have only increased the challenges of internet security by introducing a huge "back door" into your network. No longer do hackers need physical access to your network to steal your secrets. Nor do they have to defeat a well-secured firewall. Now, they can simply eavesdrop on network traffic beamed out into the ether by your new unsecured WiFi base station.

Over the next few weeks, we'll look closely at the different ways you can reduce computer security risks by implementing basic wireless internet security techniques. Stay tuned, or grab our RSS feed.