The Little Geeni

In mid-December, Google has detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure, which was originated from China and resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. Besides Google, the attacks were also directed at some 34 companies around the world.

After that incident, the search giant has indicated that it will stop cooperating with Chinese Internet censorship and also planning to shut down its operations in the country altogether. The news has created much hype all over the world and the US accused China for thinning ‘internet freedom’ and asked the government to remove internet censorship. China reverted on the statement and said such statements could hurt relations between the world’s biggest and third biggest economies.

Cyber attacks

Google said that the primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. It is reported that only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed. Further, the company added that the Gmail accounts of U.S.-, China- and Europe-based people who advocates Chinese human rights development is appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties.

Google holds release of Android phones in China

To add oil in the fire, Google has indefinitely postponed two Android based phones via China Unicom. The smartphones were manufactured by Motorola and Samsung. Market analysts suggest that the development could create a big headache for its cellphone partners, especially Motorola Inc, which is betting on Google’s mobile software and China for better revenues. Motorola is selling about 10 percent of its phones in China. In contrast, Motorola launched its app store, SHOP4APPS, in China related to Android OS based apps.

Microsoft’s role in Google hack

After the Google hacking, a security software maker claimed that the Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser may be the pathway for the attacks. The security firm added that these attacks have been directed via trusted source leading the target to fall for the trap and clicking a link or file.

Microsoft accepted the vulnerability in its IE6 and announced an out-of-cycle security update to fix a critical flaw in the browser.

China’s response

Chinese government officials said that all the companies working in the country had to abide the local laws. China counters Google’s threat by saying if it wants to operate in the country, it will require filtering its search results. Despite Google’s position, Microsoft and Yahoo said that they will continue operations in China.

Google had started the Chinese version of its search engine at the Google.com domain back in September, 2000. The search giant had also accepted the censorship of China in 2006 and launched Google.cn, a specialized version of its search site that filters out various results.

Discussion

Google knows that to leave market like China has been incredibly hard and will have potentially far-reaching consequences. In a response, Google has updated its Gmail to a more secure protocol. Earlier, it had offered HTTPS access to Gmail as an option, but now the feature has become the default. Also, it has been reported that the search giant will not leave China, but said that it would negotiate with the Chinese government over the next few weeks about the security concerns and other matters.

Google GoogleChina, Vulnerable

The reason why wireless networks are more vulnerable than wired networks is that because the data is transmitted through the broadcast radio technology that works on the same microwave radio band (2.4 gigahertz) as cordless phones, instead of a dedicated cable.

It is possible to be intercepted by hackers, especially if there is not a firewall installed because the networking transmissions are broadcast indiscriminately. Drive by hackers and casual intruders can pick up the radio signal 20 to 50 meters and as much as 500 meters if there is sensitive equipment. It is estimated that 30 percent of all wireless networks have already had a hacking attempt made, even though it is illegal.

Your wireless network can become contaminated with a virus, if another wireless computer taps into the network and has it, contaminating your server and the other computers on that network.

When wireless networks came out, they were more convenient and often a higher speed access than traditional wired networks. It soon became evident that they were easier to be compromised since multiple users were using the same broadcast signals. If a server is not secure, encrypted and firewall protected, it can cause data loss of confidential information and virus attacks that can make a system vulnerable to crashing.

Many government agencies are no longer using wireless networks because of the security issues. For most other usages, a wireless network is suitable, as long as it is firewall protected properly, but you may want to consider the additional security of a wired network, if you handle sensitive information.

The safest thing is to have an IT or network security audit done to evaluate the multiple computers on your network, whether wireless or wired, for security and firewall needs. Businesses that transmit data, store crucial customer information like credit cards and other confidential information need to be especially aware of the consequences, should the information fall into the wrong hands.

By having an IT security audit done on your system, you can discover any vulnerabilities and protect against them. Typically, they will do audits that involve external penetration tests and internal management tests to uncover any possible threats, intentional or by ignorance of protection on the part of users.

Not only can security be compromised through wireless networks that are not properly secured, but wired networks need to have proper security software and firewalls working on their server to assure protection, on an internal, physical basis.

An IT security audit will evaluate the environment of the server, whether wireless or wired and any weak links in the security including the physical location and access to the server and settings for anti-virus and firewall programs.

Wireless networks have gained in popularity due to the ease of installation, especially in older buildings and the cost is less to install than cabling a wired network. The chances of contamination of data, information loss and virus or hacking by intruders may not be worth the cost savings, due to the vulnerability of wireless systems.

Computer Security More, Networks, Than, Vulnerable, Wired, Wireless