The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) has warned of the dangers of unsecured wireless Internet connections.
According to FICORA data security expert Jani Arnell, wireless local-area (WLAN) networks are safe to use at home and in companies as long as the connections are properly secured.
The importance of the security of WLAN networks came up on Tuesday when Helsingin Sanomat reported that a Helsinki-based head of security at the international credit company GE Money faced suspicions of aggravated fraud and violation of data security. He allegedly used a neighbour’s unsecured wireless Internet connection for the purpose.
Police suspect that the man transferred EUR 200,000 of from GE Money accounts to another account.
The case is the first in Finland in which a WLAN connection is believed to have been used for a criminal purpose.
Jani Arnell says that such crimes are easy to commit if no security features are installed on the WLAN connection. He says that unsecured connections can be used freely by anyone.
Most WLAN networks used WEP encryption for security purposes, but FICORA recommends using the newer WPA encryption, if possible.
Also recommended is to secure all WLAN networks with a password.
Data security consultant Petteri Järvinen estimates that more than half of WLAN networks in home use are not secured. He is also concerned about the open WLAN networks that are being set up in many cities.
"They leave no trace of the user, and are therefore like a gift from heaven for those who are up to no good", he says.
