WiFi: the wonderful world of wireless: wireless access is increasing in popularity and presence, despite some risks.

AuthorStong-Michas, Jennifer

Technology keeps growing, in both availability and power. One such technology has been gaining in popularity, mainly because its benefits are becoming better understood.

WiFi allows users to roam freely, without hard-wire hookups, from designated hot spots and other access points. There are risks, however, to both the user and the business if they don't take measures to protect WiFi access to their network.

WiFi, short for Wireless Fidelity, is a generic term that relates to the IEEE 802.11b standard and is essentially used to replace Ethernet cables. It is that IEEE designation that helps illustrate the acceptance and importance of the standard and technology itself.

The IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., is impressive. According to them, "Through its members, the IEEE is a leading authority in technical areas ranging from computer engineering, biomedical technology and telecommunications, to electric power, aerospace and consumer electronics, among others. Through its technical publishing, conferences and consensus-based standards activities, the IEEE produces 30 percent of the world's published literature in electrical engineering, computers and control technology, holds annually more than 300 major conferences and has nearly 900 active standards with 700 under development." Understanding how important the IEEE is in regards to technology helps one understand how important the technology itself is.

The main 802.11 standard is the prevailing standard for wireless LAN (local area network) connectivity, and that technology has morphed into more advanced standards such as 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g. The 802.11b is known as the High Rate Standard and that in turn is more commonly known as WiFi. Here is where it gets a little confusing-nowadays all things related to 802.11 are known as WiFi, perhaps just because that term really caught on. "This standard replaces the cables in an Ethernet network by transmitting data from an access point to the client PCs using high-frequency radio signals, " says Skoey Virg-In, director of sales & marketing, Applied Microsystems.

Ethernet is the cabling type that is generally used for networking and WiFi is the solution to move toward a wireless environment. This is a beneficial solution for those in small businesses and in home-business environments, both prevalent in the Alaska business community.

There are basically two types of WiFi. The first is the traditional sense, where connections to the local area network are done without wires, thus making it a...

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