Cyber Awareness

Wireless Network Safety

There is no doubt that wireless internet has increased productivity and improved communications.  Users can join wireless networks at school, in airports and hotels, and even restaurants.  However wireless connections may not always be safe.  Many public Wi-Fi spots are not secured and users are at risk of exposing sensitive information and data.

Unsecured Wi-Fi

The information you send over an unsecured Wi-Fi network is not encrypted.  Always keep that in mind when decided what information you are sending.  A user should always know what network you are joining.  In an Evil Twin attack, a user is tricked into joining an imposter network that mimics the authentic public access network.  Once the user joins, the attacker can easily intercept sensitive information.

Tips

• Remember that data sent through a unsecure Wi-Fi network is sent in the clear and can be intercepted.
• Wireless data is not limited to just the range of your computer. Hackers can increase their range by using amplified antennas to intercept the signal from greater distances.
• Be cautious about the wireless network you join.
• Be careful about what information you are sending.  You should never send personnel information such as a user id, password, banking information, or credit card numbers.
• You should always restrict email use.
• You should disable shared folders.