Factual and Legal Risks regarding wireless Computer Networks

The IEEE 802.11b wireless ethernet standart has several serious security flaws. This paper describes this flaws, surveys wireless networks in the Cologne/Bonn area to get an assessment of the security configurations of fielded networks and analizes the legal protections provided to wireless ethernet operators by german law. We conclude that wireless ethernets without additional security measures are not usable for any transmissions which are not meant for a public audience.