Boston - May 18, 2004 - Newbury Networks Inc., (www.newburynetworks.com) the industry's first and only provider of location-based monitoring and security solutions for wireless networks, today unveiled research from last week's Networld + Interop (N+I) event that identified security holes throughout the exhibit halls and conference facilities. Adequate wireless LAN (WLAN) security guarding exhibit booths was missing from all but one at N+I - Newbury Networks' booth in the Security area of the show floor.
Newbury Networks measured 802.11 activity across the entire show floor 24x7, analyzing it over a three-day period. Also, Newbury performed something unique - using patented location tracking, it created a physical perimeter around its booth to distinguish the volumes of suspicious activity from the real attacks and vulnerabilities that threatened its WLAN. Here's what was discovered:
Across the entire show floor and conference rooms:
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2,241 unique Wi-Fi a/b/g devices
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386 distinct access points broadcasting open wireless networks that could be considered rogues
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102 ad hoc networks exposed to security breaches and connection hijacking
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A dizzying array of apparently threatening activity and behavior indicative of purposeful attacks
The Newbury system alerted to critical activity within the Newbury booth:
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56 unique Wi-Fi client devices passed through the Newbury booth
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24 access points were within sight in a 20-foot radius of the Newbury booth
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0 rogue access points inside the Newbury booth
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0 ad hoc networks inside the Newbury booth
Newbury's WiFi Watchdog™ prevented unauthorized access to the Newbury Networks wireless network - any device outside of the secure perimeter of the Newbury booth was automatically denied access to the network:
"Merely analyzing and monitoring wireless activity in any real-world situation is only a small first step in securing a wireless network," said Michael Maggio, president and CEO, Newbury Networks. "Aside from producing volumes of false positives that ultimately erode IT and security personnel productivity, simple detection systems only alert organizations after a security breach has occurred. When you introduce physical perimeter security to a wireless network, you bring the walls back up, prevent security breaches and ultimately worry only about the activity occurring within your facilities."
While many wireless intrusion detection systems (IDS) monitored and scanned the N+I airwaves for 802.11 devices and types of attacks, only Newbury Networks monitored that traffic and denied access to its secure booth area by deploying its patented location-based security products.
Newbury Networks is the provider of the industry's first and only location-based monitoring and security solution that enables IT/Security professionals at enterprises, healthcare, government/military facilities, and public hotspots to detect, monitor and secure WLANs by location. Newbury's award-winning WiFi Watchdog provides unprecedented security through its patented location-based tracking and perimeter security capabilities.
Unlike traditional wireless IDS and network infrastructure solutions, Newbury's products provide breakthrough capabilities for securing and managing WLANs by location - ultimately resulting in enhanced, airtight security and system performance. And unlike other location-based offerings, its server-based approach enables content and network provisioning, tracking, logging and analysis. Newbury Networks was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Boston.
