Strong encryption is the starting point for a secure public Wi-Fi The government-enterprise partnership also helps cities use the power and expertise of technology companies to help cities solve difficult technical problems and reduce operating and maintenance costs. Often times, it's bad implementation and configuration that puts the city in trouble. Ted Wagner, vice president, and chief information security officer of SAP NS2, an SAP cybersecurity subsidiary, states that as long as encryption is applied, even with weak encryption, hackers will need to spend some resources to crack. Only the combination of strong encryption and security hardening practices can significantly improve the security of citizens and tourists using public Wi-Fi networks. Cybersecurity company Norton sees free public Wi-Fi as 'a playground for hackers to steal personal information.' Free Wi-Fi, whether provided by Starbucks or City Hall, is the target of hackers.
However, the availability of public Wi-Fi networks comes at a price, because public Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Wi-Fi access and metro Wi-Fi networks are key assets for smart cities. Wi-Fi is the largest attack surface and the most vulnerable attack surface of smart cities. News Four Key Points For Smart City Public WiFi Security