Security concerns still plague wireless take-up

'Be afraid, be very afraid' is the attitude of many companies when faced with the prospect of using a wireless network. Because wireless is about broadcasting data that often goes beyond company perimeters, businesses worry that it won't be secure enough. And who can blame them, with a regular stream of surveys highlighting gaping security holes? Security consultancy Orthus found that two-thirds of European businesses deploy wireless networks, but only 28 per cent have audited their wireless local area networks (Lans) for vulnerabilities.

Just 12 per cent are using antivirus software, 23 per cent use basic password-protecting access, and only 18 per cent have issued security policies covering their wireless Lans.

Earlier this year the Department of Trade and Industry's Information Security Breaches survey revealed that a mere one-fifth of UK firms use the basic encryption protocol wired equivalent privacy and other encryption tools to protect wireless networks.

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