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Setting up a wireless network could potentially put a businesses data at risk if not protected sufficiently. The network data should be protected from unauthorized use with encryption and authentication. Encryption is where the data that is transmitted on the wireless network is disguised in only a way that the sender and receiver can read it. Authentication includes methods such as passwords and fingerprint readers to ensure no unauthorized access. If the network is going to be connected to the internet it would also be important to include anti-virus software. Anti-virus software will prevent malware from being introduced on the network.

When determining the encryption protocol to use for your wireless network, it is always best to use the most secure. Wired Equivalent Protection (WEP) does not provide a significant amount of encryption for data and shouldn’t be used if your network contains sensitive information. TJX, the parent company for TK Maxx used WEP encryption for their wireless network which contained millions of credit card numbers (Espiner, T., 2007). The WEP encryption ended up getting cracked by hackers who stole all this information back in 2005 (Espiner, T., 2007).  This event was the largest loss of credit card data in history (Espiner, T., 2007). Wireless networks should be encrypted using the best available methods such as Wi-fi Protected Access to better secure the data transmitted on them.

References

Shaffer, Carey, Parsons, Oja, Finnegan. ACP IT 221. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781285229591/

Espiner, T. (2007) Wi-Fi hack caused TK Maxx security breach. Retrieved from https://www.zdnet.com/article/wi-fi-hack-caused-tk-maxx-security-breach/