Wireless Insecurity
I have been talking for years about the relative insecurity of wireless networks. Companies and consumers alike buy and implement wireless technology for its convenience, without stopping to consider the security implications. If you can sit on your couch in the living room and connect to the wireless router in your den, then your neighbor can probably connect from his house, or the guy sitting in his car parked at the curb. Wireless airwaves do not discriminate. They travel as far as they can in whatever direction is available. Basic wireless security is just not that hard, so there is no excuse to be running a default, out-of-the-box wireless network with no encryption or security enabled. Still confused? Read this Introduction to Wireless Network Security I wrote for my About.com site.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Hey Tony,
Good job on the WiFi security write up. You made some practical suggestions to the home user. I think a great deal of the issues we see today however stem from an ignorance of basic security principles. Your “average Joe” just doesnt understand the liabilities and problems they can face by not restricting certain types of information from floating around.
I’ve done security assessments for some pretty big organizations and you never fail to find some seemingly benign information about an employee and what they like and even where they live! Many of these organizations can get hit by a hacker that simply found out where the CEO lived and jumped on his home WiFi network.
As you mentioned the security at the home is usually non-existent which could afford an attacker with a very tempting opportunity.
I think security awareness is a major piece of the puzzle that needs to get improved.
JV
SECURASYS, LLC.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
hi i know im being hacked i knew my sons father knew too much about my life and what i was doing. to make a long story short, he was using linux software to gps my car my cell phone is using bluetooth to listen to my phone calls and has let his friend use my internet to also get into my home phone and cell phones. if this was bad enough i found 67 hidden files on my laptop and when i figured out what they were i was shocked he used linux shh programs to filter credit cards from his work into many computers in cluding my moms laptop home computer and my laptop. i turned my laptop into san dimas sheriffs and west covina california fbi. they r having trouble getting information out of the computer and when he was arrested they only got him on terrist threats because he threated to kill me he was arrested but only on terriest threats and the other people who are involved because there are 9 power users connected to my home computer that i cant get out i need help from anyone who can help i would really be happy with any advise thank you
October 12th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Hey Dolly,
Sorry to hear about the issues you’re currently going through, that really sounds like a nightmare! I’m not real clear on some of the details you mentioned, but if your computer has been compromised to this level and you’re not interested in gathering evidence for pursuit and prosecution, then my advice is to completely wipe your machine and re-install the Operating System and all related programs.
When you do the re-install, have someone you trust and who is versed in Information Security methods to assist you with regard to hardening your machine. This can help you reduce the likelihood of someone controlling your computer through Trojan Horse programs, etc.
Hope this is helpful.
JV.
info@securasys.net
http://www.securasys.net