Most users have become so accustomed to networking that they never stop to ask if anyone may be listening. We all know we’d better be careful on the open Internet – even home users now use firewalls to keep intruders off the wires, and corporate admins throw in a Maginot line of proxy servers, honeypots, and tools of the DMZ. But what’s happening inside the firewall? How will you know if someone is listening – or maybe even impersonating another user? Statistics tell us that many attacks begin on the inside, from bored or disgruntled employees looking for a thrill, or possibly, from an even angrier sort looking for some form of revenge. In many corporate settings, a complete stranger can show up with a laptop and plug it to the network without exciting any response at all from the security system. The problem is even worse with wireless networks. A casual vandal standing across the street, or even in the next apartment, can make contact with your network.
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