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N.Y. County Mandates Wireless Security

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the also-coffee-is-hot dept.

Mynister writes "CNN has an article about Westchester County NY forcing small business to use basic security on their wireless networks. From the article "The law also requires that businesses offering Internet access -- coffeehouses and hotels, for example -- post signs warning that users should have firewalls or other security measures.""

5 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Hmmm by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually, it is super-enforceable.

    They can do it on the cheap with a few fulltime inspectors walking around with laptops & their eyes open for the notification signs.

    In addition, I imagine they'll make some noise in newspapers and whatnot to get computer nerds & other concerned citizens to report any violations of the law.

    Stuff like this is very easy to enforce. A friend of mine's father was made an honorary postal inspector and given a card saying so... because he would constantly report on people who were illegaly parked around the local Post Office. They even gave him freebie phone cards & disposable cameras to sweeten the deal and allow him to document the parking violations. And before anyone says the guy had too much free time, he was an insurance appraiser & was in the Post Office twice a day, every day.

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    [Fuck Beta]
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  2. Re:Dupe by TubeSteak · · Score: 3, Informative

    The old article was "they're trying to do this"
    The new article says "they did it"

    A lot of laws get drafted, proposed, and then rejected.

    This one didn't. So how is it a dupe?

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    [Fuck Beta]
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  3. Re:Dupe by HoosierPeschke · · Score: 3, Informative

    Not a dupe, a continuation. You took all the time to search for the story but you didn't bother to read it. The first story was about the proposal. This story is about the enactment. The only dupes here are the comments about this story being a dupe.

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  4. Text of the law by Peyna · · Score: 4, Informative

    The text of the law can be found here.

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    What?
  5. Is Starbuck's Secure? by nickfrommaryland · · Score: 5, Informative
    From the article:
    Some of the unprotected networks were at cafes, hotels or other establishments that offer wireless hot spots to patrons. Other networks, like those at Starbucks, were protected.
    The last time I checked, T-Mobile's service is not any more encrypted than a Netgear router taken right out of the box. Likewise, a sign will probably not protect you from much, unless you're a business. Then you can use the sign to protect yourself from liability.