Wireless Security

Were all worried about being safe. All the time. In this heightened age of post-apocalyptic (and we're still standing) relativism we find ourselves it's easy to take certain things for granted. Wireless networks holds so much of our information. Our cell phones, blackberries, PDAs, and other electronic devices (notwithstanding our computers) are a literal treasure trove of meanness addresses phone numbers and other personal stats about ourselves and our friends and our family. The multibillion-dollar wireless industry needs to come up with some better security tactics or were all going to be scrambling shortly.

The thing about security is you never know when you're in a needed until it's been breached. There's never any logic or fairness to the process of who gets hurt, who gets robbed, who is murdered; it's a guessing game. The only control we have over anything is just the most basic sort of control: conduct ourselves well in public, don't talk to strangers, don't go waving $50 bills around; outside of the commonsense practices of good decorum, we are all basically alone in this fight. We need to remember what's important, and we need to try to do what's right.

There are a couple of things you can do on your own to sort buffer yourself against any potential breach of your security system. The best defense is a good offense; ask before you get your wireless device about the security network. Find out what cautions the network is taking. Ask as many questions as you can.

Once you set up your wireless network, it's out there. So make sure it's done in the right way. You should probably have someone else set up your wireless network. Even if you are totally schooled in wireless technology and that sort of thing having a fresh set of eyes to look and see potential security breaches is always a good idea. Because, like I said, once your network is set up it’s out there.

If your ultimate concern is really safety and security, you should remember a few things: just like Smokey the bear said “Only You can prevent forest fires.” So if the ultimate breach of security is a forest fire within, then you should remember a few things before you get in. Be smart. Do what's right. And don't ever let anyone else tell you any differently. If you've gone some kind of desire to bring down your network, that's your prerogative. But don't say I didn't warn you!