It’s good that your wireless access point is using encryption, but it’s important to realize what it does and does not do. It’s important to realize that this is exactly equivalent to this:Ī wireless router just puts the wireless access point in the same box as the router itself, but in either case, it’s nothing more than a connection to your local network.Īnd of course, machines on your local network should all be able to “see” each other. Some computers are wired, and some are connected via Wi-Fi. That’s a simple setup where multiple computers are connected to the internet via a single device: a wireless router. It’s the equivalent to running a cable between the connected machine and your router. It’s important to realize that a wireless connection - regardless of how your hardware is set up - is a connection to your network.
Of greatest concern is the possibility that the connected machine could, inadvertently or otherwise, spread malware. While there’s a tiny chance network traffic could be exposed, of greater concern is that anything shared on your local network would be accessible to anyone connected. While Wi-Fi encryption is important, it does not protect you from malicious behavior by connected machines. A Wi-Fi connection is a direct connection to your local network.
