Gordon Hamachi, a software developer who lives in Mountain View, just started using the new free 
wireless computer network that Google has launched to cover the entire city.
Hamachi, 51, said he is concerned about security when he uses the free network because he knows there is a chance intruders could access unprotected data on a public network. But he is more worried about people like his neighbors, who are not computer savvy.
"There are wireless risks and there are Internet risks," Hamachi said. "I’ll have to train them about being safe on the Internet. It’s the equivalent of don’t talk to strangers if you are a kid."
Free wireless computer networks are becoming widely available in Silicon Valley. That means a host of newbies are joining the wild world of wireless computing. But it is a world fraught with more risk than wired computing and many new users may not be aware of the potential for others to steal sensitive data. Nor are they taking precautions to secure their computers. Wireless News: WiFi SECURITY
From around the Web
- Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Latest Release Schedule
- Vista SP2: What is inside?
- NetWitness releases free version of security software
- Three Reasons Why Users Won’t Buy Into Security
- Automated security testing & its limitations
- Google Wants to Preinstall Chrome Browser on PCs
- Mozilla warns of Firefox China add on
- Firefox No Longer an Automatic Defense Against Browser Drive Bys
- Google patches Chrome file stealing bug
- Apple plays catch up, adds anti fraud safeguard to Safari
- Researchers find vulnerability in Windows Vista
- How to Use Network Behavior Analysis Tools
- The insider security threat in IT and financial services
- Windows 7 security: An overall improvement?
- Windows 7 UAC could be less of a nag