How Safe Is Your Wireless Network

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

The wireless network has revolutionised the way the world can access the internet. A wireless network is defined as "technology that allows two or more computers, to communicate, (enabling file sharing, printer sharing, internet connection, etc), using standard protocol but without the use of network cabling"(1. www.keyitsolutions.com). Throughout this report many points will be addressed such as how the risks of using Wi-Fi can be overcome, the effects that ‘war driving’ and ‘war chalking’ have on the uptake of Wi-Fi in Australia as well as, the issues of security and privacy that have to be considered by an organisation when thinking of using Wi-Fi technology. Other issues that will be covered include what an unscrupulous person could do with the information gathered by ‘war drivers’ and ‘war chalkers’, the issues that should be considered in the future in relation to free Wi-Fi. Additionally, a comparison of three Wi-Fi security software brands and comparing the functionality and retail prices of the brand will be made.

Even though the use of wireless networks can be extremely beneficial for individuals there are risks that are taken when an individual has a wireless network set up in their home. The major risk is the fact that an unsecure wireless network can be easily accessed by neighbours and hackers who try to steal passwords for internet banking accounts. Situations such as these can be avoided by unprotected individuals installing security software to shield their private information from hackers. Although it is highly beneficial for individuals to protect their wireless networks there have been studies conducted that reveal a vast amount of people do not have suitable protection implemented. In fact, studies produced by McAfee, a large software security company illustrate that close to 50% of Australian home wireless networks are not protected (2. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?).

However, the lack of wireless network security is not only seen in homes, it is evident throughout large corporations. These corporations have large budgets which enable them to purchase network security but many of them fail to do so. A study constructed by Panda, a large wireless network security company found information that confirms close to 60% of Australian businesses do not have secure wireless networks (3. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). To prove that Panda’s study is correct a further study conducted by VanDyke Software shows that 42% of Australian businesses have a type of wireless security employed to protect their systems (4.Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). The director of PandaLabs, Luis Corrons stated that "although wireless networks have not been exploited extensively for malicious ends, it would seem clear that users are not sufficiently aware of the threat this poses to security" (5.Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?)

Detecting an active wireless network can be done with ease. A prominent example is the fact that Windows can detect wireless networks which means anyone with windows installed on their PC can view the wireless networks around them. Additionally, there are other online applications which aid hackers to access a surrounding unsecure network. The simplicity of being able to access a wireless network has led to ‘war driving’ (6. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). ‘War driving’ occurs when individuals circle around various neighbourhoods in their vehicle with an aim to access different unsecure wireless networks (7. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). When a ‘war drive’ is conducted it accentuates the fact that there is a shortage of security in several networks. McAfee’s regional marketing director Allan Bell set out on a demonstration war drive throughout Sydney’s North Shore for media purposes. Bell uncovered 622 networks and 29% were completely unsecure (8. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). This statistic increased as Bell ventured into the residential area of Neutral Bay finding 42% of wireless networks being unsecure (9. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?).

Furthermore, the media has unveiled a similar sensation which has turned heads called "war chalking’. ‘war chalking’ is when an individual uses chalk to mark the pavement in front of a building which houses an unsecure wireless network (10. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). Although ‘war chalking’ has been proved to have happened in the past, it is a very rare occurrence as individuals who access unsecure wireless networks do not like to publicise their location (11. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?).

Even though ‘war driving’ and ‘war chalking’ mostly occur for information purposes, there is a large chance that a devious person will endeavour to access networks in order to acquire personal details of others. Moreover, there are other individuals who try to gain access to an unsecure network in order to gain a free internet connection. This internet leaching occurs regularly and is extremely easy because individuals can view whether a wireless network is secure or unsecure by simply using their personal computers. This can be potentially harmful for the home/office who accommodates the unsecure wireless network as their confidential information will be accessed and could be used for illegal purposes (12. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). The types of information that could be accessed are bank password, bank details, other passwords and confidential files. Moreover, if an individual hacks into an unsecure wireless network and exceeds the download limit, the individual/business could end up having to spend a large sum of money to pay their internet provider. This could add up to hundreds or thousands of additional payments which will become a huge financial strain on the bill payer.

There are many different types of issues relating to security and privacy when an organisation is thinking about using Wi-Fi technology (13. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). Although there are many issues, there are benefits which wireless networking provides. These benefits are the elimination of the use of cables, this enables individuals to connect to a network easily (14. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). With these benefits aside the risks of using wireless networking are potentially high, some of these risks are that wireless data is vulnerable to wireless interception (15. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). This interception could range from, a neighbour trying to access a free wireless hot spot or a hacker who wants to steal passwords for illegal purposes (16. Case Study- How Safe is Your Wireless Network?). These security risks need to be considered by a business prior to them setting up a wireless network as it could be potentially harmful to the overall operation of the work environment. A way to combat the issues is to purchase and install security for the wireless network. The cost of the security may be expensive, although it will be extremely beneficial for a business or a home as personal details, files and passwords will be protected from hackers trying to sneak into the wireless network.

In recent years there has been a rising number of cafe’s, restaurants, pubs, clubs and etc. offering a wireless hot spot to their customers. This has been highly beneficial for customers and businesses as the free internet attracts a range of different kinds of customers. Some of these customers believe that these free hotspots are fantastic as it gives them an opportunity to work during their lunch breaks or to simply browse the net as the customer waits for their meals to arrive. However, even though people enjoy logging on to these free wireless networks many of them do not realise that what they do can easily be intercepted if they are not careful. The only thing one needs to do is to set up a fake network and give it a name which looks legitimate. Once people fall into these traps their confidential information can be easily accessed (17. Thompson, D.2009, April 28. SMH). A way in which a business could combat hackers from preying on their business’ wireless network is to advise their patrons to inquire about what the proper network name is before logging on (18. Thompson, D.2009, April 28. SMH). They should also inform customers to keep in mind that someone could be watching what they are doing (19. Thompson, D.2009, April 28. SMH). Things like this occur due to a lack of education on wireless networking, this lack of education throughout society could prove to become a major problem in the future as technology is advancing at an extremely quick pace and ‘bad’ people will continue to abuse it.

In order to ensure that one’s wireless network is protected from any external risks, the individual or business will need to purchase internet protection. There are many different companies which sell internet security, three of these companies are McAfee, Norton from Symantec and Trend Micro. These three companies all offer full internet protection and the prices of their products are all extremely similar. The following table will depict the prices of each brands top home network protection:

Price for Top Home Network Protection

McAfee- Total Protection 2011

Norton from Symantec- Norton 360

Trend Micro-Titanium Maximum Security 2011

$

$129.95 now discounted to $97.46 (25% off)

$129.99

$129.95

Table references numbers 20, 21, 22

Each of the prices above depicts the price variations of each company’s top network security products. The best price would definitely be McAfee’s Total Protection 2011 security as it is currently discounted and presents the best value. Each one of these products offers things which are also very alike. They each offer protection from threats. Once the new threat is detected each antivirus acts extremely quickly to solve and stop the problem. McAfee’s Total Protection 2011 offers the quickest protection out of all 3 products, by blocking threats within milliseconds of being detected (23. http://home.mcafee.com). Each product also guarantee’s fast and effective scanning. This scanning protects the network from virus’s, malware and spyware. Each product seems to be very efficient with this, although Norton 360 would take preference as there are no interruptions during the scanning process (24. http://antivirus.norton.com) McAfee’s Total Protection 2011 schedules scans for when the PC is not being used. This is highly beneficial as it will scan even when the PC is inactive (25. http://home.mcafee.com). The other 2 products do not offer this. All three of the products enable the user to easily see if there is an incoming threat on their PC’s desktop.

Furthermore, each product also provides the user with an alert system which is easy to understand if a PC does become vulnerable to a virus or any other threat. They also offer web surfing protection which identifies whether or not a website is safe or is a fake. This then enables the user to safely enter details such as credit card numbers and access their online banking accounts. Every product has a cleanup tool which installs into the user’s PC and is used to delete junk files or any other things that will affect the PC and make it slower. Trend Micro’s Titanium Maximum Security 2011 provides it’s user with the better clean up tool as it not only erases the unwanted files, but it overwrites them with random data so the contents can no longer be accessed (26. http://shop.trendmicro.com.au). Both McAfee and Trend Micro’s products offer email protection, which means that their security software blocks SPAM mail from clogging the user’s inbox. Norton on the other hand does not provide this security.

Moreover, the trio of products offer online storage backup. McAfee’s Total Protection 2011 offers 1 or 2 GB (27. http://home.mcafee.com), Norton 360 offers 2 GB (28. http://antivirus.norton.com) but Trend Micro’s Titanium Maximum Security 2011 offers a staggering 10 GB (29. http://shop.trendmicro.com.au). That is by far the premier software for online storage backup as they offer up to 9 GB more than the other two products. Each of the three products enables the user to have parental control and filter what their children can access. Additionally, if the user’s PC is stolen, hacked or lost their files are still protected by each product as the files are safe in a vault which can be only opened through a password. This enables that all the user’s personal details are safe and secure. Each product also blocks the access of intruders trying to access the wireless network in place and this ensures that the users home network is protected at all times.

The features of each product above portray how effective and how efficient each product is in protecting a home’s wireless network. By looking at the features above the preferred antivirus would be McAfee’s Total Protection 2011 as it exceeds all expectations apart from the online backup which could be improved in the next edition. The price is also tremendously appealing as you receive so much network protection for below $100. Finally, by looking at the value and the features McAfee’s Total Protection 2011 would be the network security which most people would choose.

It is evident that wireless networking has revolutionised the way individuals and businesses operate on a day to day basis. This revolution has enabled businesses to move forward in regards to technology at an extremely fast rate as technology is continually changing and improving. Additionally, the risks which wireless networking presents have been assessed and solutions to these risks have been outlined. A comparison of three leading network security products has outlined that McAfee’s Total Protection 2011 is the better network security as its features and value outweigh the Norton and Trend Micro products. Finally, it can be noted that once a business or an individual purchases network security their files and details are protected to the full extent.

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