In New York’s Westchester County, legislators are proposing a new law to compel commercial businesses (including home offices) that have an open wireless access point to have the “network gateway server” fitted with a firewall to block intrusions. Under the proposed legislation, not only may “public Internet access” not be provided without a gateway server equipped with a firewall, but any business or home office that stores personal information as well must install a server with a firewall—even if the wireless connection is encrypted and not open to the public. Publicly available Internet access sites would have to post a sign: “You are accessing a network which has been secured with firewall protection. Since such protection does not guarantee the security of your personal information, use discretion.” Come on.
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