Will Wi-Fi Make Your Private Network Public? Wardriving, Criminal and Civil Liability, and the Security Risks of Wireless Networks

Wireless networking is growing in popularity because it is often cheaper and more convenient than other computer networking systems. Wireless networks, however, are also very hard to secure. Locating insecure wireless networks and advertising their locations is an activity known as “wardriving.” Exploiting the vulnerability of a wireless network to hack into the computer system or to monitor the wireless transmissions can give rise to liability under federal felony and misdemeanor statutes, as well as federal civil liability and liability under state law private causes of action. When introducing wireless networking into business information systems, system administrators should use all possible care to secure the network, and IT policies and practices should be updated to make sure that wireless networking risks that cannot be eliminated through technology are managed prudently.