KIRO-TV report in Seattle makes it all sound so scary: Typical mainstream report focuses on the exciting and frightening parts of Wi-Fi, but the high points it hits aren't inaccurate, just over-emphasized.
For instance, the notion that companies are transmitting personal details in the clear over their wireless LANs? 100 percent true. All consultants and network builders I talk to constantly see this in venues they visit, whether to help them build out or as plain customers.
This statement is over the top, though: "Imagine the case of pornography or child pornography and all of a sudden the authorities are knocking on your door and taking you away and you don't know what they're talking about -- because someone downloaded child pornography via your connection," Hiley said. This should have been countered by an expert in ISP issues. Yes, the police could do this, but pornography isn't illegal in this country, and child pornography task forces are usually pretty careful about building an air-tight case.
TechDirt says this is overhype; I actually think it's only slightly more chilling than the reality of what's going on.