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WiFi: Cheap, easy to use, but a security risk

Hello friends.

This is regarding the Bomb blast in Ahmedabad, India.
The threat mail send just before the blast was send thro a laptop, which belonged to a multinational company executive in New Mumbai. According to police , he looks to be innocent and the mail was send through his network WiFi connection by a terrorist hacker. So please check the following article to prevent unauthorized use of your WiFi network and please secure your WiFi Network.

WiFi: Cheap, easy to use, but a security risk

Navi Mumbai: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has all but confirmed that Ken Haywood, the US national from whose IP address the terror mail was sent, was a victim of hacking, most probably committed by gaining access to his WiFi network. WiFi has become the connection of choice for many in the corporate sector since it is easy to use and provides easy access to information. In a WiFi-enabled space, the internet can be accessed from any point within range. Despite its advantages, WiFi does have its downside, especially with regard to security, as in the case of Ken Haywood, whose IP address was hacked Varinder Kumar, an expert at an IT firm, told TOI, “To break into a person’s
WiFi system requires only a little bit of money and knowhow about how it works. A WiFi receiver can be set up for as little as Rs 2,500. Most WiFis are not encrypted, since the service providers feel that might make it difficult to use for their consumers. Because of this, their signals can be picked up from anywhere with a good receiver. As long as the frequency range, which is usually the same in most Wi-Fi systems, is configured in a certain way, one can access a person’s WiFi and hack into his personal systems and use his account for ulterior motives.’’ A WiFi instrument, which can be bought for around Rs 2,500, can support any WiFi connection, which can be purchased from service providers for as low as Rs 800. Once installed, the system has a range of 20 to 25 metres, within which the user can access the internet through his laptop or computer.
A computer expert and “ethical’’ hacker, Abhishek, said, “The networks can be easily broken into using a router which has a good reception. The mistake that many do is that they fail to authorise their WiFi networks, thus leaving them vulnerable.’’
In Haywood’s case, this small mistake on his part led to the hacking. The ATS has been questioning all those who might have had access to his WiFi.
Hemant Karkare, ATS chief, said, “We have rounded up dozens of people in the area in connection with this. We have narrowed
t h e list to a few and are questioning them in further detail.’’
With even such a modern system being susceptible to attacks, the only way out seems to be the strict implementation of increased security.

Source : The Times Of India, Mumbai Edition, Date 1st Aug 2008

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