|
Gartner Advises Safeguarding Against Pirate Wireless Networks
|
|
STAMFORD, Conn., November 8, 2000 — According to Gartner Group, Inc. (NYSE: IT and
ITB), pirate wireless networks eavesdrop on data and passwords that cross the backbone of any
centralized Internet network. With 127 million adults in the United States using the Internet, pirate
wireless networks pose an increased security threat.
|
|
Pirate wireless networks are usually cobbled together from components that employees have
available to them in IT departments. To achieve the insidious practice of tapping into secure data,
wireless pirates need only to dial into the wireless network and then intercept or eavesdrop on
backbone activity on a traditional Internet network of servers and desktops. Proximity is key —
wireless pirates must dial in from less than a couple of hundred yards from the traditional network
they are tapping into.
|
"The wireless technologies we will be using are revolutionizing the way we do business," said
Martin Reynolds, Gartner vice president and research fellow. "Security efforts need to be
thorough in all dimensions of the workplace."
Gartner advises IT users and vendors to thwart pirate wireless network activity with the following
tactics:
- Change security codes on the network. Default codes are open to any third party who
knows the code.
- Implement wireless access points. Isolate the path that wireless users access your
network. This will reduce the amount of backbone activity they can see and it reduces
overall traffic via the network hub.
- Support departmental wireless networks. If departments have full IT support for building
wireless networks, they will be less likely to build their own insecure wireless networks.
- Implement Media Access Control (MAC) address tracking to control network security.
Know who is travelling on your network via MAC. Additionally, MAC can disable
wireless devices remotely if stolen.
- Monitor access logs. Access logs point to source addresses and make it easier to identify
attempts to penetrate network log-in security.
|
About Gartner
Gartner provides unrivaled thought leadership for more than 10,000 organizations, helping clients to achieve their business objectives through the intelligent and efficient use of technology. Additionally, Gartner helps technology companies identify and maximize technology market opportunities. Gartner's technology content and strong brand reach IT professionals globally through Gartner Research, its research and advisory unit; Gartner Services, its custom consulting unit; Gartner Events, including Gartner's renowned Symposia; and at http://www.gartner.com.
Gartner subsidiary TechRepublic, Inc. (www.techrepublic.com)
is the leading online destination developed exclusively for IT professionals by IT professionals. Gartner, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, achieved fiscal 1999 revenue of $859 million. Gartner's 4,300 associates, including 1,400 research analysts and consultants, are in more than 80 locations worldwide. For more information about Gartner's industry-leading products and services, please visit us on the Web at http://www.gartner.com.
|
|
CONTACT:
|
|
|
|
