Re: Perhaps the most OBVIOUS question you will ever see.

From: Bigbruva (Richardh_at_dontusethis.ws)
Date: 01/28/05 

Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 19:48:06 -0800

Might I suggest a different tack.

Simply send them a memo or email explaining in simple non-inflammatory terms
that by having an unprotected wireless network they are exposing all the
data on that organizations network to a serious risk. You understand that it
is not your place to set the network strategy for the whole company but you
do feel that it is important to highlight this issues before a security
breach occurs.

Then leave it at that, if you push too hard you could be out of a job!
However, if your boss does nothing after that memo and you are later hacked,
he will be the one out of a job while you will probably be first inline for
his post :-)

Good luck, either way

BB

"Curious George" <curious@spampoop.com> wrote in message
news:99hKd.1635$Vt6.340@fe10.lga...
> Dear Colleagues:
>
> For the life of me I don't know why I have to ask this question since the
> answer is so obvious, however, I need to have others tell me that I am not
> completely insane.
>
> I work at a place where we have a myriad of wireless access points and NO,
> I
> am not writing from there at present.
>
> NONE of the wireless access points has any form of security on them
> whatsoever. No WEP, no CHAP. . . no nothing. Everything is open so you
> could walk into our joint, grab an IP address and surf the web to your
> heart's content.
>
> Here is the problem. My boss insists that its "no big deal" and that
> since
> the servers are on the inside and protected, we really don't have a thing
> to
> worry about. Furthermore, my boss is under the impression that since we
> are
> situated in a wide area, that nobody would be able to get into our network
> because of this distance. Needless to say, my boss does not consider
> somebody sneaking into a parking lot with a laptop, a good network card
> and
> a directional bazooka antenna a possibility.
>
> So here is what I have to explain to my boss' boss and, perhaps, the board
> of directors. . . and here is where I can't help but laugh. I hope that I
> will be able to keep a straight face come Monday when I have to explain
> myself to people why its important.
>
> Okay, so I know the analogies. For example, I understand that not having
> a
> secure wireless network with many Waps and high gain transmission antennas
> is the same as putting cables out to anybody within 'x' amount of yards
> with
> a sign that says "free internet access", but since I am going to be asked
> these obvious questions, just what type of damage could somebody do?
>
> Yeah, I know about denial of service attacks, yeah I also know about
> enumeration and password guessing, but considering that we have an SQL
> server on the inside of our network (no, the sa account password is not
> null) what are we talking about.
>
> I can envision so many things. Like somebody just sitting there caputring
> packets to get things like usernames, passwords and the like, but come on.
> .
> . what else could they do.
>
> I have read my boss the riot act many times, but this is now going to go
> in
> front of somebody over my boss' head, so, aside from giving them worst
> case
> scenarios, end of the world analogies, etc., how else could people break
> in.
>
> Creative responses are appreciated and will be rewarded with much praise.
>
> I can't believe that I have to actually explain this to people, and this
> entire thing would last about two seconds when it comes to talking with a
> computer professional, but you see, my boss is under the impression that
> they are a computer professional because they received a Master's degree
> in
> Comp Sci back in the 80's. I know that this line of thinking is
> dangerous,
> but I really want some creative answers to put my point across strongly,
> and
> yet professionally.
>
> Although I realize that this post will likely be the *** of many jokes
> (which I will appreciate immensely) I never the less would appreciate a
> bit
> of useful information in your responses.
>
> I am going to have a serious drink now, and then bang my head against the
> wall.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> CC
>
>