Wireless networks – also known as Wi-Fi or Wireless Local Area
Networks or WLANs – can fall victim to malicious hacking
techniques, from eavesdropping on company or agency secrets to
computer network disruption and the launching of denial of service
attacks.
Security is therefore a key issue when using a wireless
network.
Despite this, the report found that nine agencies out of the 24
looked at by the GAO had not issued policies on wireless networks;
13 had not established requirements for setting up the networks in
a secure way; 18 had no provision for training in wireless
security; and the majority were not able to properly monitor their
networks.
Of the six agencies physically tested by the GAO, "we were able
to detect wireless networks at each of the agencies from outside of
their facilities," says the report.
"Wireless-enabled devices were operating with insecure
configurations at all six of the agencies," it explains. "For
example, in one agency we found over 90 laptops that were not
configured appropriately."
The GAO found unauthorised wireless activity, which had not been
detected by monitoring programs, at each agency.
The GAO has therefore recommended that the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget instruct agencies to ensure that
they address wireless network security in their information
security programs.
