Well, we've talked about this before, and here's yet another story that mentions how grotesquely inadequate security is on most home wireless computer networks. A study in home WiFi networks in Indianapolis found that a staggering 46 percent of the networks tested did not have any form of encryption turned on. That's almost half -- ripe for the hacking and taking.This is a serious problem, one that is probably being under-reported. If identity theft was an issue before, it could explode by drive-by WiFi hackers to say the least. Manufacturers -- why of why can't you make it easier to -- by default -- have a mandatory wizard upon router setup that makes WEP, or better yet, WPA encryption, part of the required router setup?
It's true that customers should be responsible for setting this up, but with the unreal amount of techno-babble in most HTML-based home router setups I've seen, it's no wonder customers don't know how to setup WiFi security on their routers.
1. meh. Wireless security (esp. for home users) is kind of an overblown issue. Especially if you secure your home systems.
Unless you live in close quarters to folks pre-disposed to downloading music like a dorm, then there just isn't that much of a risk.
Posted at 11:02AM on Jul 1st 2006 by Alex Hutton