Wireless

"We're a very tech-savvy community," said James Palenick, City Administrator for Rio Rancho, N.M. to explain why his city of 63,000 was working to provide WiFi access to its citizens. "We've always wanted this to provide economic growth," he said. "It sends a very important message to the country and the world." And of course, it sends an important message to the citizens of Rio Rancho, first that the city has found a way to provide nearly ubiquitous broadband access to everyone in the city; and that the city is providing a new revenue stream for the city.

As one of the "hip" IT topics, wireless networking is getting a lot of exposure from the book publishing companies. We've reviewed quite a lot of books dealing with security implications of wireless technology. Today I'm taking a look at a book that covers a topic that is often considered the most interesting aspect in this field - wardriving. Chris Hurley aka Roamer is a Principal Information Security Engineer working in Washington, DC area.

Is it possible to deploy a secure wireless LAN with technology available today? That question preys on the minds of IT executives who are tempted to deploy enterprise WLANs, but are hesitant because of security concerns.

So we assembled 23 wireless products from 17 vendors and ran them through a battery of tests aimed at getting the answer.

Enterprise IT managers are interested, but reluctant, to introduce wireless technology to their business for no good reason - and as a result could be risking security breaches. At least according to a survey by researchers IDC.

Networking equipment manufacturer Netgear launched a product on Thursday that will allow users to propagate high-speed wireless broadband around their home via their mains wiring. The snappily named WGXB102 54Mbps Wall-plugged Wireless Range Extender Kit comes in two parts -- an Ethernet bridge and what Netgear calls a 'wireless range extender'.

The bridge is used to connect the customer's existing wired or wireless router to their home mains wiring. The range extender can then be inserted into any power socket, where it will act as a wireless access point.

Employees are increasingly demanding that enterprises deploy wireless LANs (WLAN). While many companies are acceding to their demands, security issues are the main factor inhibiting even faster uptake of the technology. Ironically, though, few companies have actually suffered from WLAN security breaches.

Law enforcement agencies across the country may one day link to a broadband wireless network that lets them view streaming video of felonies and identify criminals more quickly.

However, the legislation necessary to make the network a reality isn't moving at the same pace as the technology.

Sysware, the leading hardware and software distributor in Taiwan, and AirDefense, the leader in 24x7 wireless LAN (WLAN) security monitoring, today announced the two companies are continuing to educate the Asia Pacific market on the reality of wireless risks by monitoring the wireless network at the upcoming Hack in the Box Security Conference 2004 to be held from October 4th to the 7th in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The NSW State Transit Authority is considering installing wireless broadband access on its fleet of Sydney ferries, turning them into mobile wireless hot spots, according to Personal Broadband Australia marketing director, John Filmer.

Filmer today said the NSW STA had been involved in technology trials using a combination of wireless LAN and iBurst's mobile wireless technologies that has the potential to turn the ferries into wireless hot spots.

High-tech tensions at the University of Texas at Dallas are easing, as administrators are curtailing the regulation of private hot spots in campus housing, but problems with interference may continue.