Wireless Security Audits and Reconfigurations

Just how safe is your wireless network?

Many homes and businesses now have wireless networks to wirelessly share their broadband internet connection, printers and files. Wireless networks certainly are fantastic. Home users can sit in their back-yard with their notebook of an afternoon and enjoy a drink while surfing the internet and business users can easily work with their laptops in their workplace without having to worry about cables.

A recent wireless survey of a Sunbury housing estate has shown that nearly half of wireless networks have no security at all and there is no doubt that many of those networks which do have security enabled on them, are still vulnerable to attack.

Wireless networks which have no security enabled can easily be connected to by anyone with a wireless enabled computer within the wireless signal range. These people who can easily connect to unsecured networks can do many things;

- They can download very large files, quickly using up your monthly download quota (Which, depending on your internet provider and your plan, could leave you with a very large internet bill).
- They can download illegal content from the internet. E.g. Child Pornography and Copyright protected media (Music, videos etc.) which you can get into serious legal trouble for.
- They can monitor your network and retrieve your passwords to your email accounts, online banking accounts and many other online services.
- They can access your files on your computer and make copies of them or corrupt them

and there is a lot more that they can do. They can pretty much gain exclusive access to everything on your network. Have a look at this article from The Herald Sun Newspaper on the 10th of December, 2007, about how people's wireless networks were exploited.

Even if your wireless network has security, it may not be correctly setup or it may not be enough and you could still be vulnerable.

Hybrid IT Solutions is the first IT business who is targeting wireless security proactively. We want wireless users to know that they can use their notebooks safely and know that there isn't somebody watching their every move on the internet.

So if you're not sure if your wireless network is as secure as it could be, be sure to send us an email to receive a free security audit and if it is necessary, we will work out how to secure your wireless network and prevent prying eyes.