Internet is used for various kinds of sensitive information transfers. The most sensitive is perhaps the information about money. People should, however, be aware of the risks that come with use of the technology. Especially risky could be connecting to the web from a hotel room by cable or Wi-Fi. Many hotels do not properly maintain their network"s security.
This information comes from a study “Hotel Network Security: A Study of Computer Networks in U.S. Hotels" that was published on the Cornell University"s web pages. The researchers directly analyzed networks available to guests in 46 hotels and surveyed other 147 U.S. hotels. Some hotels rely on rudimentary hub technology for their networks making it rather easy for hackers to attack. Only six out of 39 hotels that provided Wi-Fi connections used encryption to improve the safety.
The researchers also pointed out that improving the network safety does not necessarily have to be expensive. For example, hotel personnel should inform guests about the correct name of the hotspot connection so that they do not log into a false connection. It is also advisable to disable the laptop"s automatic feature that connects to the nearest hotspot.
Internet banking has become a very popular way of managing one’s money, it is quick and ready 24 hours a day. Even though bankers tend to say that their web pages are absolutely secure the reality is a bit different. According to the identity theft expert and CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, Robert Siciliano: “There is no such thing as 100 percent security.” Using insecure networks or “bad” quality web pages may lead to considerable money losses. It is naturally not only true about money but also about sensitive corporate information.
The internet crime is on the rise and every user should be aware and prepare for that because hackers have changed from geeks who want to be famous to criminals who want to steal your money.
