Open Wi-Fi?
January 15th, 2008
I just read an article by one of my favorite tech authors, Bruce Schneier, on wired.com that asks if you run a security risk by leaving your home Wi-Fi open and free for others to use.
I’ve always left my Wi-Fi password protected etc at home, but I can see many good points to leaving it open. But I guess I’m still worried that something bad could happen. I’m not a tech guru, and I worry about doing things that could lead to something needing fixing later. In tech matters, I often take the path that less potential ’surprises’.
Nonetheless, after reading this article, I wonder if I do indeed have anything to worry about. As Bruce points out, the computer you (I) use needs to be secure regardless of whether we’re running Open or Closed Wi-Fi.
What do you security conscious techs out there think? I’d love to know. Jimbo? Ben?
P.S. dg pointed towards this online backup - has anyone used it, or have an educated opinion of the service?
[28/01/08] P.P.S. dg gives us reason #1 why mozy sucks.
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Now playing: Powderfinger - Stumblin’
via FoxyTunes
Yeah. I’ve read this a couple of times over the last few days. It has struck a chord with my own thinking but taken it much further.
Security needs to happen on each workstation/pc/laptop/ - to rely on some other point does, by it’s very nature, leave ‘open doors’ on the network.
That said, in a typical business, it is far easier to secure the ‘obvious’ point, the connection to the ISP via the firewall, give people a bit a of a speech about safe disk practices, safe web browsing and then proceed to watch them flout it.
The firewall is important, but it only blocks one point of access. With well intended but naive staff plugging in devices on the inside of a network, Bruce makes clear that more needs to happen on the individual level.
I’m still chewing this over…
I have to admit, in a business-scenario I’d be more wary, but here at home I am already sharing the connection with people who have little to no idea of safe internet usuage. Therefore my PC is (hopefully!) pretty well secure, so nothing they will do affects my PC.
I figure that I might as well open it up. Except that I’m still worried. Even though other users here at home may be clueless, I’m sure they aren’t malicious. I can’t be sure random strangers will fit the same description.
I’m still chewing it over too.