From: news-1235297497@discworld.dascon.de   
      
   On 2009-02-23, Ronald J. Hall  wrote:   
   >   
   > Hi Michael - that brings up a question. The hospital where I work at   
   > maintains a wireless network, a "guest" account so that patients can log   
   > into it from their rooms with a laptop. No password/keys are needed.   
   >   
   > How do they secure that? There is a disclaimer at the first logon, saying   
   > that basically everything that happens is the users responsibility. Guess   
   > that covers it, huh? :)   
      
   It is not secure at all - anyone can connect, and all data is transmitted   
   unencrypted over the air, so anyone with a laptop can easily sniff   
   everything. When using such a setup, you should make sure that critical data   
   (like passwords you enter on some website) are encrypted by the client.   
      
   On a private setup, this is probably not what you want - anyone can connect   
   to your access point and (ab)use your internet connection, and anyone has   
   direct access to all your machines just like he plugged a cable directly   
   into your network - and when you use protocols that do not encrypt the   
   passwords, like ftp/telnet, you also broadcast those in cleartext to anyone   
   listening.   
      
   cu   
   Michael   
      
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