Appeal for Opinions on Draft “Secure Use of Wireless LAN for General Users”

1.Background

  The MIC has officially announced the “Secure Use of Wireless LAN” (formulated in April 2004, revised in December 2007) as a guideline for secure use of wireless LAN and urged general users such as households and business users to take measures for information security in the use of wireless LAN.
  However, in recent years, modes of wireless LAN use have significantly changed due to technological development, use of wireless LAN through smart phones owing to their rapid dissemination, and use of Wi-Fi tethering* function through smart phones. In addition, the final report (June 2012) from the “Smart Phone and Cloud Security Research Society” under the MIC and the report from the “Wireless LAN Business Research Society” (July 2012) have pointed out the necessity for revising the guideline.
  To this end, the MIC has commissioned private research agencies to conduct surveying and research on the latest trends in technologies for information security measures of Wireless LAN, changes of modes of wireless LAN use, and the necessity for revising this guideline in the “Study Group on Information Security of Wireless LAN.”

  *A function to connect computers and game consoles compatible to wireless LAN to the Internet through networks of mobile-phone providers by using smart phones as access points (base unit) of wireless LAN
 

2.Direction of formulation of guideline

  As the bracket of wireless LAN users is expanding due to rapid dissemination of smart phones, the current guideline will be completely revised focusing on general users. The MIC will formulate the “Secure Use of Wireless LAN for General Users” again in such a way that permits general users who do not have any particular knowledge on information security can utilize it.
  The MIC has now compiled a draft “Secure Use of Wireless LAN for General Users” based on deliberations in the “Study Group on Information Security of Wireless LAN,” and an appeal for opinions on it will be held.
  With regard to the use of wireless LAN for business purposes that requires further stronger information security measures in response to increased information security threat such as cyber attack, it is planned to compile “Guidelines for Introduction and Operation of Wireless LAN in Companies (provisional title)” during FY2012 by incorporating more advanced and professional contents.
 
 

3.Guidelines for appeal for opinions

  Subject of appeal for opinions: Secure Use of Wireless LAN for General Users Deadline for submission of opinions: October 9 (Tue), 2012, 5:00PM (Submissions by mail must also arrive by this date)
  The subject of the appeal for opinions will be posted in the column of “press release” on the MIC website (http://www.soumu.go.jp) and the column of “public comments” on the e-government portal (e-Gov) (http://www.e-gov.go.jp).
 

4.Future plans

  The MIC will officially announce the “Secure Use of Wireless LAN for General Users” based on opinions submitted.