Getting access to government computers in the UK has been made a whole lot easier this week.
Actually, we’re sure that they are scrambling to close this little gaping flaw in the security of the UK Parliament.
It seems that new MPs have been disallowed by the secuity boffins at the Houses of Parliament from having access to a wireless network. In fact new MPs since the last election have been issued computers without wireless, but many of them don’t even have offices yet so they are unable to connect them to the internet.
Enterprising young MPs, who need access to the internet to well.. do their jobs, have taken matters into their own hands by bringing in their own laptops.
But here is where it gets interesting. They have been connecting to an open wireless network from a cafe accross the street that offers free wireless in an attempt to draw in more customers.
By connecting to this network, MPs have effectively breached their own security by possibly allowing access to their computers to whoever might be looking for it. Rather than having a safe network offered from within Parliament they have accessed a network with unkown security measures.
Predictably, the security boffins in government are not impressed, but at least an inquiry has recommended that they install a secure wireless network.
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