Study Exposes WLAN Security Risks

Source: eWeek

As wireless networks continue to gain acceptance and become integral to corporate computing environments, IT departments continue to ignore the myriad security problems inherent to wireless LANs, according to a new study by RSA Security Inc.
The study found that of 328 wireless access points detected in downtown London, nearly two-thirds did not have WEP (Wired Equivalent Protection) encryption turned on. Also, 100 of the APs were sending out signals identifying the organizations that owned them, and 208 were installed using the default configuration.

The survey seems to confirm the suspicions of most security experts, who for years have warned that most WLAN implementations are essentially unprotected. RSA, based in Bedford, Mass., plans to release the survey's findings next week during the CTIA Wireless 2003 show in New Orleans.