8.4 Risks to Wired Networks From Wireless Networks


8.4 Risks to Wired Networks From Wireless Networks

With the prevalence of wireless devices, more users are seeking ways to connect remotely to their own organizations' networks. One such method is the use of untrusted third-party networks. Conference centers, for example, commonly provide wireless networks for users to connect to the Internet and subsequently to their own organizations while at the conference. Airports and even some coffee franchises are beginning to do the same. These untrusted public networks introduce three primary risks:

  1. Because they are public, they are accessible by anyone , even malicious users.

  2. They serve as a bridge to a user 's own network, thus potentially allowing anyone on the public network to attack or gain access to the bridged network.

  3. They use high RF transmission power levels for a strong signal strength, thus allowing malicious users to eavesdrop more readily on their signals.

In connecting to their own networks via an untrusted network, users may create vulnerabilities for their company networks and systems unless their organizations take steps to protect their users and themselves . Users typically need to access resources that their organizations deem either public or private. Organizations should protect their public resources using an application layer security protocol such as Transport Layer Security (TLS), the Internet Engineering Task Force standardized version of SSL. Organizations should use a VPN solution to secure their connections because this helps prevent eavesdropping and unauthorized access to private resources. Lastly, as with any network, social engineering and dumpster diving are also concerns. An enterprise should consider all aspects of network security when planning to deploy a wireless network.




Wireless Operational Security
Wireless Operational Security
ISBN: 1555583172
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 153

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