It is pointed out that Samsung, a leading Korean company, is doing `Korea passing` as Wi-Fi security issues are emerging as a recent issue.

According to related industry on December 27, Samsung Electronics recently installed Wi-Fi security solution `Secure Wi-Fi` in Galaxy Note 8, a mainstream smartphone model through security patches, but it does not provide it in Korea. The solution has already been pre-installed in the US in September (T-Mobile and US Cellular) and is being supplied to 28 countries in Europe, including UK, Germany and France.

Secure Wi-Fi is a virtual private network (VPN) service that Samsung Electronics cooperated with McAfee to provide free up to 250MB per month to Galaxy Note 8 users. Users can automatically encrypt traffic data when they connect to a Wi-Fi via VPN or visit a website that contains personal information.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has been criticized by Samsung for failing to comply with Samsung Electronics` claim that the number of users of Galaxy Note 8 is high, such as recording the highest ever pre-sale volume in the notebook series. In this regard, Samsung Electronics is in the position that domestic service is difficult due to the problem of negotiations with telecom companies.

A Samsung representative said, "It is not possible to make a secure Wi-Fi service because I need to consult with domestic telecommunication companies." It is difficult to say that there is a service plan in the future. "In the industry, some analysts think that Samsung Electronics ignores the service demand of domestic users when it sees that three telecommunication companies such as SKT, KT, and LG U Plus.

Several security industry experts said, "Mobile carriers are installing a lot of Wi-Fi access points ahead of the PyeongChang Olympic Games, but Galaxy Note 8 does not want Wi-Fi security to be highlighted." In particular, Samsung will have no choice but to refrain from offering it. " When the service is adopted in Galaxy Note 8, it is likely that the Wi-Fi security solution will be installed in Samsung smartphone models to be introduced.

Mobile carriers are offering advanced Wi-Fi services that enhance security such as `Giga Wi-Fi Premium (KT)`, `T Wi-Fi Secure (SKT)` and `Security Secure Premium Wi-Fi (LG U Plus)`. In this situation, Samsung Electronics recently announced that it is inevitable to notice the three telecom companies that are playing the domestic e-distribution ecosystem while the market is complicated due to the launch of a new iPhone.

An expert in the telecom industry said, "Samsung and Apple are generally aware of the fact that carriers are launching a flagship model with a large sales volume. However, if all three telcos are uncomfortable, Samsung Electronics will have to accept it." On the other hand, the problem of public Wi-Fi security threat has been pointed out by Park Hong-keun (Democratic Party) and Song Hee-kyung (Free Korean National Party) According to the two lawmakers, about 40% of publicly installed Wi-Fi in Korea is unprotected.

By Lee Gyung Tak kt87@


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