Most wireless networks these days operate without any encryption whatsoever. And while security professionals (and the FBI) try to make the point that this is a foolish practice, very few of us take the time to do otherwise.
I can’t tell you the wireless networks that are running in the clear at people’s homes who should know better: IT executives, corporate titans of industry, and computing professionals who are familiar with PKI and hacking tools. Why do so many people forgo encryption? There isn’t any one good reason. Setting up encryption over your wireless network often requires a Computer Science degree, plenty of patience, reading at least two manuals, or just dumb luck.
It could be that since setting up a wireless router has become so easy, and the routers themselves now retail at less than $100, that we have all become complacent. Maybe when you get unencrypted communications working you stop and are so thankful that you router is working at all.
These one button hardware solutions are completely a mess. They’re actually more trouble than the previous solutions these guys ship. I bought one to try out (Linksys 54g) and while the marketing on the box was all slick and looked good, it turns out that you had to do a firmware upgrade once you got home to try it out. Router firmware upgrades–ohh yeah, those are easy for sure–yeah right!!! The market may be ready for a one-button solution, but the router manufactuerers have a long ways to go yet. I’m not going to purchase another one of these for a year or two–I’ll give them time to figure othings out.
Thanks for the advice, too many people do not protect themselves enough. Thanks for the help, now though there are many other solutions to help protect against outside users.
Regards,
Marcus