Assignment 1: How Safe Is Your Wireless Network?

How safe is your wireless network?

Ever since the introduction of the first mobile computer device, there has been a growing need and want for more and more mobile computing devices. Once users got the first taste of harnessing the power of the mobile device that was all they needed. Today, you cannot walk down any public road or walk into a public building without seeing users talking and connecting to the internet via mobile devices. Today, there are two ways that data can be transmitted. Either through a physical cable or through free space. There are a number of security considerations when using a physical cable. However, there are an even greater number of security considerations when transmitting through the free space.
These network technologies use radio waves to connect to networks. Today’s smartphones also can act as their own mobile hotspot. Other ways that mobile devices can connect wirelessly are by using public Wi-Fi hotspots. Home users tend to have a variety of devices they like to connect wirelessly to the internet and to each other. While at home, users can use a wireless router provided by their ISP or they buy a wireless router that can be connected to the home wired network to provide wireless functionality. Because of the high-price of smartphone hotspots use, few home users use their smartphone network to connect their other devices to the internet. Other ways that home users can connect wirelessly are through ISPs that provide satellite or microwave connections. Businesses are increasingly using mobile employees with mobile devices that connect to the company’s infrastructure wirelessly. When business employees are out and about they have many different options for connecting. They can use their smartphones, create a hotspot with their smartphone to connect other devices to the network or use public Wi-Fi