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| 'Evil twin' Wi-Fi access points proliferate
'Evil twin' Wi-Fi access points proliferate
The next time you splurge on a double latte and sip it while browsing the Internet via the cafe's Wi-Fi, beware of the "evil twin."
That's the term for a Wi-Fi access point that appears to be a legitimate one offered on the premises, but actually has been set up by a hacker to eavesdrop on wireless communications among Internet surfers. Unfortunately, experts say there is little consumers can do to protect themselves, but enterprises may be in better shape.
With the growth in wireless networks, the "evil twin" type of attack is on the rise, said Phil Cracknell, president of the U.K. branch of the Information Systems Security Association. Such attacks are much easier than others seeking logins or passwords, such as phishing, which involves setting up a fraudulent Web site and luring people there, Cracknell said.
A rogue Wi-Fi connection can be set up on a laptop with a bit of simple programming and a special USB thumb drive that acts as an access point. The access points are hard to trace, since they can suddenly be shut off, and are easy to build, Cracknell said.
»www.networkworld.com/news/2007/0···ess.html
Free Wi-Fi software nixes need for routers
»www.networkworld.com/news/2007/0···ml?t51hb
Technion-Israel Institute of Technology scientists say their WiPeer software (available as a no-cost download here) can be used to link computers that are within 300 feet of each other inside buildings to more than 900 feet apart outside.
The wireless link can be used to swap photos, conduct online chats and even transfer a 700MB file in 15 minutes or less, the scientists say.
"We want to bring this to as many people as possible," says Professor Roy Friedman of the Technion Faculty of Computer Science, in a statement. "When there are two computers in the same room, it doesn't make sense that they must go out to the Internet to communicate. WiPeer’s main added value is the ability to keep things local.”
Next up is extending the software to work with cell phones so that callers can bypass operators and talk to nearby people
»www.wipeer.com/
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