For years, sensitive documents and corporate data have been easily viewable on the coworking space's open network.
WeWork's weak Wi-Fi security has been leaving sensitive data accessible on its open network for years. That may have compromised both organizations that work in WeWork spaces as well as those that have never entered WeWork but do business with companies that use its offices.
A Fast Company report back in August highlighted poor security practices by the real estate firm, which rents out coworking spaces to mostly small businesses. A new report from CNET takes a deeper dive into the extent of WeWork's oversight and implications for its customers.
The findings come from Teemu Airamo, who according to CNET evaluated WeWork's Wi-Fi security in 2015 before moving his digital media company into one of its Manhattan offices. He was able to view hundreds of other companies' financial records and devices on the building's network; upon alerting the community manager, he found out WeWork already knew this was possible. Attempts to bring the Wi-Fi security issue through the ranks to WeWork's upper management proved fruitless.
WeWork Wi-Fi is protected by a password, which CNET says appears in plaintext on the WeWork app. Multiple WeWorks in New York, and some in California, share the same password.
Over the past four years, Airamo has continued to run regular Wi-Fi scans on the WeWork network. His scans show 658 devices exposing an "astronomical amount" of data: financial records, business transactions, client databases, emails from other companies, driver's license and passport scans, job applications, contracts, lawsuits, banking credentials, and health data.
Read more details here.
Check out The Edge, Dark Reading's new section for features, threat data, and in-depth perspectives. Today's top story: "The 20 Worst Metrics in Cybersecurity”
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like
Guarding the Cloud: Top 5 Cloud Security Hacks and How You Can Avoid Them
April 4, 2024Cybersecurity Strategies for Small and Med Sized Businesses
April 11, 2024Defending Against Today's Threat Landscape with MDR
April 18, 2024Securing Code in the Age of AI
April 24, 2024
Black Hat USA - August 3-8 - Learn More
August 3, 2024Cybersecurity's Hottest New Technologies: What You Need To Know
March 21, 2024Black Hat Asia - April 16-19 - Learn More
April 16, 2024