Wi-Fi threat

Author: Shashank shekhar

Wi-Fi provides Internet connectivity through a wireless router to computers having a Wi-Fi enabled card installed in them.
The router is connected to the Internet by means of a modem, typically a cable or DSL modem. Any user within 200 feet or so (about 61 meters) of the access point can connect to the Internet, though for good transfer rates, distances of 100 feet (30.5 meters) or less are more common. Retailers also sell wireless signal boosters that extend the range of a wireless network.
Wi-Fi networks can either be “open”, such that anyone can use them, or “closed”, in which case a password is needed. An area under a wireless access blanket is often called a wireless hotspot.
If you have an unsecured wireless Internet connection then chances is high that someone close to your house maybe surfing the Internet using your connection and bandwidth without your knowledge.
The situation is worse if you are a regular net banking customer or shop online. There is a high possibility that your passwords and sensitive information are being stolen.
Arun Bansal Internet security consultant said, “It is very easy to send mail via Wi-Fi without getting traced. Every computer has same IP address after getting connected to a Wi-Fi network. Many hackers do ‘war driving’, which mean a virtual recce of the locality and scan the unsecured Wi-Fi network. Usually security feature are there in all the Wi-Fi networks but people are not not aware about them and thus do not switch it on.”
Another Internet security provider Rajat Khare said, “It becomes very hard to trace the threat mail sender as all the computers under a Wi-Fi network share the same IP address. Wi-Fi router has a default password so it is very easy to change that. To ensure security many companies have a list of computers and laptops which access the Internet through their Wi-Fi connection, and if any new device tries to enter it a message is flashed.”


HOW TO ENSURE SAFETY

Making the wi-fi secured is available with all the service provider. One just need to do is activate the password, which would always ask a new device the password to get the access.