01.08.07
Breaking news (not really): wireless hotspots are insecure
Jon Pogue, a technical writer for the New York Times, recently discovered how very insecure Wi-Fi connections can be (via Lifehacker). This is nothing new. However, it can be a jarring shock to those of you who hop on free Wi-Fi connections down at the local coffee shop. Your email messages, web surfing, instant messaging, and insecure web logins are all out there, zipping over the airwaves. Scary. I hope you didn’t send that email regarding inside information at a public company over a hot spot — you might be in hot water if you did. If you logged onto that message board you like, you might watch for posts you didn’t write.
However, Jon Pogue is just discovering what techies have known all along: networks are insecure. When you’re down at the local hot spot, you could be sharing a connection with a hacker, it’s true. It doesn’t even have to be a good hacker — lots of freely available software can do the trick without much fuss. However, you’re just as vulnerable on wired networks, depending on who else can get on it. Do you really trust everyone in your office?
Nonetheless, you should always consider wireless hotspots untrusted. If you need to do work, see if IT staff will set up a VPN for you. While you’re at it, see if they’ll set up a web surfing proxy for you. If you need to send email, try using SSL. Avoid logging into unsecured logins, such as most message boards. Otherwise, just be aware that someone might be listening.