Wi-Fi has been Krack-ed

Wi-Fi has always been the weak link in Network security. As wonderful as Wi-Fi makes our life easier and more productive, it is a prime target for hackers to exploit. And because all these devices connect to your network wirelessly, they become potential security liabilities.

Case in point: if you haven’t already heard there is a new vulnerability to the actual Wi-Fi protocol that runs all these devices. it's called Krack.  And if your devices don’t have the proper security update/patch, then the sensitive data contained within your network could be vulnerable to spying/attack. Here is a quick video from C|Net  that summarizes the situation nicely.

The Good - in order to effect an attack, a hacker has to be within range of a Wi-Fi signal and as we all know that signal degrades quite quickly as you move away from the source.

The Bad - practically all Wi-Fi devices are affected. And applying security updates to each device could be a real bear of a process. Most of the major technologies can and have push out updates already, and if your device is set for automatic updates, then that device will be taken care.

The Ugly – how do you know if your device has been patched? Start with your major devices – routers; modems, computers, etc. and check for security updates with those brands. If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides you with a wireless modem/router contact them and ask them what it will take to patch the vulnerability. But as you make your way down the list of smaller devices, finding out how to apply a security update may become like finding a needle in a haystack.

We found this article on Zdnet that shares information about what brands are taking action to address the issue. And as always if you have questions or concerns, please call us. We are here to support you.