Wireless is not the Problem

Wireless is not the problem. It is a wonderful technology that expands the limits of our access to the data we need. The problem is that this great advancement has been built on the shoulders of insecure infrastructures. The freedom of access wireless provides is nothing more than an additional and powerful doorway to these security feeble environments. In this paper we will not be examining the WEP protocol. Much research has been done that proves WEP to be ineffective at achieving a reasonable measure of security; therefore it will not be discussed as an option. Instead this paper will explore the vulnerabilities in our current network infrastructures (wired and wireless), how these vulnerabilities would be mitigated in an ideal world, the barriers to achieving that ideal world, and finally the options available for minimizing the risks today.