Internet Security Learning Center

The Notebook: Your Achilles' Heel

The primary cause of security events in wireless networks has nothing to do with viruses or unsecured hot spots: It is the device itself. To secure mobile data, companies should insist that their traveling workers be more careful when on the road, especially at airports. Travelers should always keep their laptops in a case, and check to make sure that the case has all its contents before exiting the plane, train, or taxi. If a computer is lost or stolen, a strong password can still protect the data. Passwords should be a mix of letters, numbers, and characters, and should not be stored on the hard disk. Beyond password protection, hardware such as smart cards or tokens offers even greater protection. The device's hibernation mode should be set up so that it prompts for a password after being reactivated. Users can also set up an electronic safe on most mobile devices that functions as a virtual disk drive, securing and encrypting the device's contents. Setting up automatic encryption ensures that no data will be left unprotected. Finally, companies will help their cause by restricting the plug-and-play function. Though convenient, this feature makes it easy to export data into the wrong hands and increases the device's vulnerability to worms and viruses. With physical devices accounting for 86 percent of the security incidents that occur on wireless networks, users simply need to be more disciplined in their usage habits.

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