Most, if not all, laptops on the market today come with wireless capabilities which are one of the reasons why most of us tend to purchase a laptop over a desktop computer. The majority of laptop users tend to leave their wireless connection enabled and insecure when the internet is not being used and this can even be the case if the users don’t even use wireless internet access. Securing your wireless network is an essential step for laptop security.

Laptops with wireless capabilities can be dangerous

Too many organisations that use a wireless network do so without taking the correct security precautions such as using Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). This leaves a business network vulnerable to allow an outsider to access their network and do almost anything they wish.

It’s not difficult for someone to gain access to an insecure wireless network to sniff data that could be held on a laptop or even within a company network. There are many tools available on-line (for free) that makes it easy for just about anyone to crack into a business network.

Why you should secure your wireless network

Not only is it advisable to secure your wireless network to stop someone for sniffing data on your laptop or network its also advisable to secure it to stop people from piggy backing your internet connection. Someone who piggy backs onto a wireless network has the capability of performing illegal activity with you being blamed; such activities include attacking other networks, sending spam or viruses and even hacking. An example would be the case of Nicholas Tombros who piggy backed onto wireless networks to send pornographic spam.

I don’t use a wireless network so I’m safe

Unfortunately that’s not the case if your laptop has wireless enabled; it still sends a signal that can be accessed by anyone within a distance. Once someone can piggy back onto your laptop using a wireless connection then can also get access to your wired network and who knows what they may see.

Always make sure to secure your wireless network and disable it when it’s not being used.

See more of our security tips for laptops