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WiFi Security Exploited for Demonstration
By Larry Hendrick | April 23, 2007
WiFi technology has one great big problem, and exploiting that problem is getting easier, thanks to current hacker tools. The LA Times enlisted the help of Humphrey Cheung to visit a coffee shop and see what information he could sniff.
Within a short time, Cheung was able to give detailed and accurate information about many of the people using the WiFi hotspot. He accomplished this by viewing the traffic moving from the laptops to the access point, trapping the websites and searches the people typed into their browsers. Yes, it’s that easy.
Also included in the LA Time article is a video with tips on securing your computer. The only problem? Non of the steps protect you from the type of hack Cheung was participating in. The security tips will keep someone from browsing your computer files, but not your web traffic.
Public Wi-Fi may turn your life into an open notebook - Los Angeles Times
No one in the evening crowd at a Starbucks in Pasadena knew Humphrey Cheung.
But Cheung, quietly sipping hot chocolate and working on his laptop, knew things about them.
Several tables away was a guy sitting alone with his own laptop. “He’s starting a business,” Cheung said. And the young couple in the far corner? “They’re getting married,” he confided.
Cheung isn’t psychic. He had hacked into the coffee shop’s wireless Internet connection on his Toshiba laptop. It took him all of about five minutes to do so, using free software available online.
Public Wi-Fi is very handy for perusing the Internet away from the office or home. Just remember that you may have company while surfing.
Once hooked into the system, Cheung was able to monitor the online activity of other laptops in the shop.
If you think your business or home wireless network is secure, take a look at this article from ZDNet. George Ou describes how easy it is to hack an access point even with WEP security enabled, and most home and business access points are still open, with no security turned on.
This growing problem is now taking on a serious undertone. Open or easily hacked wireless networks are being used for illegal activities, leading to the arrest of the owners of the routers. IP address tracking leads the police to you, not necessarily the computer that participated in the illegal activity. Child porn and music violations seem to be the most popular violations, but others will follow.
How’s your WiFi? Is it secure? Is it open? It’s probably time to check. There are many ways to stop wireless theft built into the wireless routers. Investigate WPA encryption and MAC address filtering for a couple of ideas.
If you need more information, leave a comment and we can discuss it.
Topics: WiFi |
April 24th, 2007 at 1:09 am
This topic is really important . “This growing problem is now taking on a serious undertone. Open or easily hacked wireless networks are being used for illegal activities, leading to the arrest of the owners of the routers. IP address tracking leads the police to you, not necessarily the computer that participated in the illegal activity. Child porn and music violations seem to be the most popular violations, but others will follow.” laptops
June 27th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I'm agree with Gene Waxman, WiFi is very popular now and its need more protection.World famous company Agnitum Ltd. gives some recommendations about WiFi security: WiFi Security Basics