Wireless Security Survey in Fort Worth Reveals 39.3% of Networks at Risk!

 Advotech, LLC, a Fort Worth, Texas IT services company, performed a random sampling of local wireless networks during a two hour drive around Fort Worth's suburbs to determine overall risk.

    A recent article in the New York Times :Growth of Wireless Internet Opens New Path for Thieves underscores the precarious nature of the latest trend in broadband connectivity.  In homes and businesses around the country WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) access points are being put in place to serve the fairly common goal of wireless connectivity for Internet access.  As the New York Time's article points out, many of these new networks lack the basic security necessary to keep unauthorized users out.

    In order to determine our own risk in the Fort Worth area, Advotech setup a laptop in one of our service trucks to log detected wireless networks encountered during the course of normal operations.  As a result, 275 wireless networks were detected in roughly 120 miles of mixed surface and highway driving around the city of Fort Worth.  Of these 275 networks, 108 or roughly 39.3% were found to have no security.

    Advotech strongly recommends that all wireless network users configure at least the minimum WEP (Wired Equivalent Protocol) security in order to keep hackers and child pornographers out of your networks and to keep the FBI or other authorities from putting you or your business in the middle of their investigations.  A new wireless security standard known as WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access) provides the best security available in today's consumer products.  You can find more detailed information about securing your wireless networks at http://www.advotechllc.com/Tips/WirelessSecurity.htm.