DoT, DIT to implement strict security norms for Wi-Fi connections

New Delhi: A series of recent terror activities, recently involving terrorists using the open Wi-Fi networks for communicating has forced the government to impement stricter Wi-Fi securities.

The Department of Telecom and Department of Information and Technology are jointly working out measures to check this growing misuse. Investigations into the recent bomb blasts at Ahmedabad and Delhi suggest a widespread use of wireless (Wi-Fi) technology in carrying out the deadly attacks.

DoT officials, however, admit that the advanced technology cannot be stopped but its misuse certainly has to be checked.

The agency is looking at issuing general guidelines, instructions and advisories to internet service providers, who in turn would educate and create awareness on security measures of Wi-Fi connections among its users.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is also planning to impement various measures taken globally to make such networks secure and safer.

An official of the cyber security wing of DIT, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) said that a password protected system should be made mandatory by ISPs for providing Wi-Fi connections. The most widely used default password such as 1234 makes it quite easy for people to access another person's network.

ISPs, however, argued saying that Wi-Fi routers are easily available in the market and it is the customer duty to take care of password protection and not the ISPs. The unsecured networks should be made secure by customers themselves for their own security.

According to ISPAI president, Rajesh Chharia,  ISPs will play their role in educating the user to be more careful on passwords for Wi-Fi technology.