Wireless security vendor AirDefense has released new research which
suggests that even the most cautious organisations are leaving their
networks unprotected.
Tests across 1,000 companies in the San Francisco area – conducted ahead
of this week's RSA Security Conference in the city – exposed widespread
failures in wireless protection, even at financial services firms and
government organisations.
That suggests that many IT leaders are still unaware of the risks posed
by unsecured wireless networks, even after high profile cases of data
theft, such as the theft of credit card details at TJX where 45 million
customers had their details pilfered via the wireless network.
AirDefense found that 22 percent of the wireless access points it tested
were unprotected. A further 30 percent only used Wired Equivalent
Privacy, the weakest form of wireless protection.
In government organisations, an alarming 72 percent of access points
were unencrypted or using WEP; in financial services the figure was 67
percent.
But the lessons from TJX have at least been taken on board by retailers.
"Transportation and retail were head and shoulders above the other
industries with proven methods of intrusion prevention in place," said
Richard Rushing, chief security officer, AirDefense.
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