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You are here: Home / Articles / Network / Is Your Wi-Fi Secure or Do You Just Think It Is?

Is Your Wi-Fi Secure or Do You Just Think It Is?

2011-10-05 by Jason

The Wi-Fi Alliance sent out a press release this morning sharing the results of their Wi-Fi Security Barometer Survey. The survey was conducted in August and involved interviewing 1,000 people regarding the security of the wireless networks they use. 97% of those responding thought their network was secure but when it came down to brass tacks and follow-up questions that asked if specific methods had been employed, the survey found networks were less secured than individuals thought.

Most users have taken basic security steps but only 59% were using strong passwords. The Wi-Fi Alliance sees this as an increase in basic measures with definite room to grow for consumers taking more steps and becoming more educated about securing their Wi-Fi.

Other survey findings included:

  • Two out of three Wi-Fi users recognize that responsibility for the security of their data lies with them
  • Eighty-five percent of survey respondents understand that their Wi-Fi devices should not be set for automatic sharing, yet only 62 percent actually have auto-sharing turned off
  • Only 18 percent of users report that they use a VPN (virtual private network) tool when in a hotspot
  • Users who have suffered the effects of a computer virus are no more likely to have better Wi-Fi security behavior than those who have never had any computer viruses
  • Users who ranked themselves as “tech-savvy” are no more likely to score better on measures of Wi-Fi security behavior than those who said they are less comfortable with technology

To help, the Wi-Fi Alliance has security tips at http://www.wi-fi.org/security. They have also established a simple checklist to cover the basics of securing your network.

Getting a passing grade on Wi-Fi security can be as simple as A-B-C:

A: Enable WPA2™ security on your network and devices. Look for products with Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ for simple, easy-to-use steps to enable security.

B: Passwords are in your control. Create a strong Wi-Fi network password that is at least eight characters long and includes a mixture of upper and lower case letters and symbols. It is a good practice to change passwords on a regular basis, perhaps once a year during Cyber Security Month.

C: When on the go, connect to networks you know and trust and turn off automatic sharing on devices so you can control what you connect to and who/what connects to you.

I’d go ahead and throw “Use HTTPS whenever possible, especially when using Wi-Fi” in there and then you’re pretty well off for consumer use of Wi-Fi.

Filed Under: Network, Security and Privacy

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