UK firms wide open to wireless attack

Most large UK companies are leaving their networks open to attack by failing to take wireless security seriously, newly released research has claimed.

A survey of 81 large UK companies found that 68 per cent of respondents displayed "an alarming lack of urgency in securing computer networks against wireless risks".

According to the study by wireless firm Red-M, 45 per cent of those contacted mistakenly believed that their existing security measures would protect them against wireless intrusion, while 23 per cent believed that simply declaring their offices wireless-free zones was effective.

"That's like saying that because stealing is a crime we don't need to lock our buildings at night," said Red-M chief executive Karl Feilder.

"What they don't understand is that unless they're monitoring their airspace 24 x 7, they have no way of knowing whether any rogue devices are on the premises."

The poll found that, while more and more companies are using technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, there is very little work being done to protect corporate networks.