The Risks of Having a Wireless Network

When looking for a new network to install, it can be tempting to lean toward wireless for its convenience. Though wireless networks are flexible for office use, there are a lot of security risks to consider.

Without adequate protection, your data can get intercepted by hackers without warning. Before choosing a wireless network over wired for your company, reflect on the risks of having a wireless network.

Its security flaws might have you reconsidering the advantages of wired networks.

Piggybacking

If your office is in a highly-populated area, your wireless network may be highly susceptible to piggybacking. Networks that lack proper security features allow access to any nearby wireless-enabled device.

Having unaccounted devices connected to your network could cause your business some serious trouble. Unaccounted users could surf malicious sites, conduct illegal activity, monitor your web traffic, or steal sensitive files.

Wireless Sniffing

When using a public access point while working, you and your employees’ devices and data transmission become vulnerable to interception.

Public access point traffic is not encrypted, which makes it easily accessible to cyber-criminals. Using “sniffing tools,” bad actors connected to the public access point can obtain sensitive information.

Ensure that employees, including yourself, stick to wireless networks with at least WPA2 encryption. Avoid using your work laptop while connected to public networks at coffee shops or libraries.

For good measure, your company can provide employees with a portable wireless router for sensitive remote work.

Evil Twin Attacks

An evil twin attack occurs when a cyber-criminal gathers information about a public network access point and sets up their own identical system.

Using a broadcast system stronger than the original access point, the impostor network connects to unsuspecting user devices. It’s also possible for cyber-criminals to mimic your connection, creating a deceitful connection under the same name.

With devices actively using the “evil twin” connection, adversaries can hack credit card numbers, passwords, and other sensitive data. The risks of having or using a wireless network are endless. Be sure that employees are always confirming the name and password of a Wi-Fi hotspot if working from home.