Wi-Fi - your security Achilles heel?

Source: silicon.com

Only a third of European companies using wireless LANs (WLANs) have issued security policies and many more are seemingly blasé about various aspects of making sure corporate networks aren't compromised.

Wireless LANs - now usually based on the Wi-Fi standard, also known as IEEE 802.11b - are increasingly popular within companies as well as in homes and at public 'hotspots'.

But the lax security is worrying. What's more surprising is that these findings have come from a survey of over 300 CEOs, MDs and other senior directors at companies attending last month's WLAN Event conference in London - users who may well be considered to be more educated about wireless LAN usage.

According to the survey, from London-based security outfit Orthus, almost half of respondents - 46 per cent - said they wouldn't know if their LANs had been compromised.