They may be just passing your office, computer bag slung (悬挂) over one shoulder. Or they may be
sitting in a car outside it, causally tapping away at a laptop. They look like innocent passers-by. In fact,
they are stealing your corporate secrets.
Drive-by hacking is the trendy term given to the practice of breaking into wireless computer networks
from outside the buildings that house them. A recent study in the UK, sponsored by RSA Data Security,
found that two-thirds of organizations with wireless networks were risking their data in this way. Security
experts patrolled (巡逻) several streets in the City of London seeking evidence of wireless networks in
operation.
Of 124 that they identified, 83 were sending data without encrypting（加密）them. Such data could
readily be picked up by a passer-by armed only with a portable computer, a wireless modem and a few
pieces of software that can be freely downloaded from the Internet.
The data could include sensitive company documents containing valuable information. Or they could
be e-mail identities and passwords that could be used by hackers to log into corporate networks as if
they were legal users.
Most companies using wireless networking technology do not take even the simplest of measures to
protect their data. Nearly all wireless network technology comes with some basic security features that
need only to be activated (激活) in order to give a minimum level of security, for example, by encrypting
the data being passed over the network.
Raymon Kruck, business development manager at Check Point Software, a security technology
specialist, believes this could be partly a psychological problem. People see the solid walls of their
building as safeguards and forget that wireless networks can extend up to 200 meters beyond physical
walls.
Companies without any security at all on their wireless networks make it ridiculously easy for hackers
to break in. Switching on the security that comes with the network technology should be automatic. Then
there are other basic steps a company can take, says Mr. Kruck, such as changing the passwords on the
network from the default (默认) setting.
Companies can also install firewalls, which form a barrier between the internal network and the public
Internet. They should also check their computer records regularly to spot any abnormal activity, which
might betray the presence of a hacker.
1. According to the study sponsored by RSA Data Security, two thirds of the subjects _______.
A. had most of their company data stolen
B. depended on wireless computer networks
C. were exposed to drive-by hacking
D. were unaware of the risk of wireless hacking
2. Whichof the following is NOT considered in the study?
A. The number of computer hacking incidents.
B. The number of wireless computer networks identified.
C. The way in which data are sent and received.
D. The way in which data are hacked and stolen.
3. Most wireless network technology has_________.
A. data encryption program
B. password security programs
C. illegal-user detection
D. firewall
4. Raymond Kruck most probably agrees that wireless network security involves ________.
A. wireless signal administration
B. changes in user's awareness
C. users' psychological health
D. stronger physical walls
5. The passage is most likely to be seen in a __________
A. book review
B. science fiction
C. textbook
D. computer magazine
