Anywhere Computing with Laptops: Making Mobile Easier

Understanding the Threat

Make no mistake, the threat is real. If you compare a wireless network with a conventional wired network, the security risks posed by the two are essentially the same with one big additional risk for the wireless network.

The big additional risk is that a wireless network provides no physical security. Essentially, anyone can tap in to a wireless network. In comparison, to hack a wired network, you need a physical connection to the network's wiring, generally meaning that you must have access to the premises, implying an inside job of some sort.

Attacks from the Internet are, of course, a threat to both wired and wireless networks. But in stark contrast to wireless networks, no one can attack a wired network without gaining ...