Devices which use radio frequency transmissions to replace medium-distance wired connections (such as Ethernet cables), to create what is sometimes called a WAN (wireless area network), or employed simply to replace short-distance cabling between digital devices.

The most common current wireless network protocols are in the 802.11x family, sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), and have a range of hundreds of feet. The shorter-range Bluetooth specification is intended for communications over tens of feet.

Wired networks are protected by physical security mechanisms associated with the buildings in which they are housed. Signals broadcast by wireless devices can travel far beyond the confines of any structure, and so must be protected in other ways.

Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth specifications include security elements, and most if not all of these elements are implemented by manufacturers of devices with wireless capabilities. However, these security measures are often turned off by default. Wireless devices without such security measures enabled can be very insecure indeed.

Since wireless devices also tend to be portable ones, they also have the added security risk of being more easily lost or stolen.

Last modified: 11-May-2005 [RC]