May 2003 - Vol. 46 No. 5

Features

Opinion Editorial pointers May 1 2003

As I write this column, the press is having a field day over reports that the latest corporate entity to surf the Wi-Fi wave is, of all things, McDonald’s (see News Track, page 10). The decision may not be as pioneering as, say, the low-cal vegan McWrap, but the hamburger giant is surely in impressive […]

Diane Crawford

Architecture and Hardware

News News track May 1 2003

News Track

The Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), a humble U.S. agency that until recently was little known even within Washington circles, is growing in size and stature as a seeker of antiterrorism gizmos. The Wall Street Journal calls the group the U.S.’s talent scouts for finding and funding novel devices to combat terrorism on behalf of […]

Robert Fox

Computing Applications

Opinion Forum May 1 2003

Forum

I enjoyed Diomidis Spinellis’s article ("The Decay and Failures of Web References," Jan. 2003) on the longevity of URLs but would like to contradict his conclusion that search engines and Web archives are unable to solve the problem. Spinellis cites a 1999 paper to argue that search engine coverage is inadequate. While this may have […]

Diane Crawford

Computing Applications

Opinion The business of software May 1 2003

In the Zone: the Need For Flexible Roles

Blurring the lines of distinction between team roles is often necessary to adapt to a changing environment.

Phillip Armour

Computing Applications

Practice Practical programmer May 1 2003

One Giant Step Backward

Old saying: "The more things change, the more they remain the same" …or do they?

Robert L. Glass

Computing Applications

Opinion Viewpoint May 1 2003

Life Beyond the Bubbles

The technology, Internet, bandwidth, and content bubbles all burst, scattering not only broken dreams but new seeds of innovation and enterprise.

Dennis Tsichritzis

Computing Applications

Research and Advances Wireless networking security May 1 2003

Introduction

In the time span of just a few years, wireless local area networking went from being a novelty to revolutionizing the way many organizations connect their computers. Visit any major department store, hospital, or office building, and you will encounter 802.11 cards in all of the PCs and access points hanging from the ceiling. The speed with which wireless networking has caught on is not surprising, as 802.11b offers up to 11Mbps of bandwidth, and a range of several hundred feet. Newer standards, such as 802.11g, promise five times the speed. Multiple wireless access points can be easily installed on the same network to increase the coverage area, so that an entire building can be easily connected. Conversely, wiring buildings with Ethernet is expensive and limits the locations from which networked computers can be used.

Aviel D. Rubin

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Wireless networking security May 1 2003

Security Problems in 802.11-Based Networks

Assessing inherent wireless network security deficiencies and seeking solutions.

Russ Housley and William Arbaugh

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Wireless networking security May 1 2003

Security Flaws in 802.11 Data Link Protocols

Understanding the difficulties in security protocol design and attempting to relocate the struggle between hacker and defender to a different protocol layer.

Nancy Cam-Winget, Russ Housley, David Wagner, and Jesse Walker

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Wireless networking security May 1 2003

802.11b Access Point Mapping

Considering some of the practical issues encountered when finding and mapping wireless network access points.

Simon Byers and Dave Kormann

Architecture and Hardware

Research and Advances Wireless networking security May 1 2003

Why Wi-Fi Wants to Be Free

As the telecommunications industry wavers, a global grassroots movement is building the next-generation wireless network.

Terry Schmidt and Anthony Townsend

Architecture and Hardware