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Article:
  Seven Security Problems of 802.11 Wireless
Subject:   8 Problems
Date:   2003-01-29 03:50:27
From:   anonymous2
This is an excellent reference, however I feel the list should probably have an entry titled "Problem 8... Physical Securities".


What we are largely seeing in the world of WiFi's is much the same technological response to the issue of securities as occurred with the implementations of analogue, then digital, then GSM mobile telephony. The primary threat for WiFi users is not from roof-born hackers using high-power encryption tools and coffee-can high-gain
directional antennas... the most significant threat is that someone will break your car window and steal your WiFi enabled laptop complete with
loaded passwords and WiFi entry scripts.


The lesson (hard learnt) by our Telco's after investing $billions in security algorithms, is... why would a criminal go to all the trouble to
hack a network when they can simply steal a mobile phone? - This is why so much effort has recently gone into installing unique ID's into every phone and sim-card to track physical thefts.


WiFi's are no different, and as computerised access devices become smaller and easier to steal, the highest risk to these networks is that someone will simply steal an access device (no technical expertise or special tools required). Physical security has become the issue of the day (lock-up your Laptops!!).