Wireless networks and false experts

We've always warned customers about leaving their wireless networks unprotected, so it was with interest we read today's Australian IT's article about Wireless hacking. Although I'm not sure whether logging on to unsecured network is "hacking". What really worries me are the people our big businesses and corporates outsource their IT to.

Kim Valois, global head of security at Computer Sciences Corporation, claims wireless hacking isn't really illegal at all, saying "It's not really illegal, it's like leaving the door open and someone coming in and watching your cable TV." Well Kim, I dunno what the law is where you're from, but that's called trespass around these parts.

She's later quoted as saying "most home wireless networks did not even have passwords" which I assume means encryption. If she'd made that comment two years ago, it would probably been correct, these days it would be 25% at most. I'd be fascinated to know the source of Kim's figures, maybe it's from how well her colleagues setup their own networks.

Reading Kim's comments, I'm not surprised CSC is retrenching 5,000 employees.

It's strange how wireless networks bring out odd opinions. My favourite is George Ou's blog on ZDNet, where he claims all our advice is useless. I can only assume George doesn't lock his car or front door because determined bad guys will break in anyway.

All this reminds me of Bob Rosenberger's False Authority Syndrome. The worrying thing is some of these people should be authorities.