Wireless Networks: Panacea or the Next Hacker's Playground?

Over the past few years the demand for wireless communications, including wireless networks has grown steadily. Most projections are that the demand will continue to grow in the coming years. Wireless networks offer the potential for changing the way we do networked computing. They also could become the next 'hacker's playground' according to a July 19 2001 article at VNU Business Publications web site. 'Although the same rules apply as with securing a wired network wireless introduces new twists and because it's a new technology security is forgotten about. There really isn't any hard and fast way of hardening a wireless network yet' said De Spiegeleire [1]. This paper will provide some background on wireless technology look at wireless network security issues then review recent news and finally offer some suggestions for discouraging the hackers from playing in your wireless backyard.