A wireless network allows the exchange of information using
radio signals, so you can easily connect to the network if you are
within range of the radio signals. However, within a certain range,
the signals can reach unintended recipients.
Security experts recommend password protected wireless networks.
Check with your network administrator for guidance on setting up
wireless security for your network.
If wireless security countermeasures are not
implemented, problems such as the following may occur:
- Communicated
data could be intercepted by a third party who is receiving
wireless transmissions without authorization, and who could obtain
personal information from these transmissions such as IDs,
passwords, credit card numbers, or the contents of personal e-mail
messages.
- Unauthorized
access to a network by a third party could result in access to an
individual or intra-company network without permission, allowing
them to do any of the following:
- Retrieve
personal data or other secret information (information
leakage)
- Pose as
another user and send inappropriate data (impersonation)
- Overwrite the
contents of intercepted data and resend it (falsification)
- Introduce a
computer virus which could cause data loss or system crashes
(damage)