GAO Slams Agencies for Not Securing Wireless Networks

A new report from the Government Accountability Office is slamming at least six federal agencies for failing to put the proper security controls on their wireless networks.

In an article on the Computerworld website, Linda Rosencrance says the GAO is reporting that it found security leaks on wireless networks that six federal agencies set up. All of the agencies are headquartered in Washington, but Rosencrance says the GAO did not name the agencies for security reasons.

"Despite the risks associated with wireless networks, federal agencies have not fully implemented key controls for securing these networks," the report said. Rosencrance says the GAO also found that nine agencies haven't issued wireless network policies and 13 haven't established requirements to set up these networks securely.

On top of that, the GAO report found that "the majority of federal agencies lack wireless network monitoring to ensure compliance with their own security policies, prevent signal leaks and detect unauthorized wireless devices," Rosencrance says.

At one agency, Rosencrance says, the GAO found that more than 90 laptops were not configured properly. "Without implementing key controls, agencies cannot adequately secure federal wireless networks and, as a result, their information may be at increased risk for unauthorized disclosure, modification or destruction," the report says.

To read the full article, click here: http://www.techworld.com/mobility/news/index.cfm?NewsID=3689&Page=1&pagePos=10