| -link"> | | | | were being used. Of far more consequence are some |
| | | | of the uses to which this stolen bandwidth could be |
| With wireless networks proliferating it is becoming | | | | put. In a worst case example a paedophile cruising |
| more important than ever that sufficient security | | | | around the area could spot the chalk marking and |
| measures are put in place. And yet many people, | | | | connect to the compromised network. Without the |
| especially those new to the technology or computers | | | | knowledge of the network owners they could connect |
| in general, are just not aware of the dangers of not | | | | to any manner of illegal sites, with no record of their |
| properly securing a wireless network. | | | | passing traceable to them. Because the trail would |
| Typically normal’ users of products such as | | | | stop cold at the door of the person who has provided |
| wireless routers dismiss any security concerns as only | | | | them with the free access. |
| really being applicable to commercial concerns. After | | | | Of course this is a very worst-case example, and as |
| all, who would be interested in a small local set-up of | | | | such very unlikely. Even in today’s climate of |
| two, maybe three computers? You may be surprised. | | | | moral decrepitude this sort of occurrence would, we |
| There are many horror stories circulating about | | | | hope, be extraordinarily rare. But hopefully it will help |
| unsecured wireless networks, and unfortunately there | | | | drive home the point that securing your network should |
| is a grain of truth in most of them. | | | | be taken very seriously indeed. But what can you do |
| The most common form that a danger to a private | | | | to protect yourself? |
| network can take is known as variously as | | | | I would recommend that all wireless networks should |
| War-driving’, war-walking’, | | | | make use of the WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) |
| war-flying’ or war-chalking.’ This | | | | encryption option which comes as standard with |
| involves an unscrupulous person literally driving, walking | | | | almost all routers and base stations. Although turned |
| or even flying around in an attempt to find an | | | | off by default this feature is absolutely essential. |
| unsecured wireless network. Once one is found a | | | | Utilising either 64-bit encryption, which creates a 64bit |
| nearby wall is commonly chalked’, indicating | | | | encryption based on a 40-bit key with a 24-bit |
| to any other passer-by the presence of a ripe target. | | | | initialisation vector, or 128-bit encryption which makes |
| The name itself is taken from the act of | | | | use of a 104-bit key with a 24-bit initialisation vector, a |
| war-dialling’, a term coined by the film | | | | secure password is created. This password should |
| WarGames’, where random telephone | | | | only be given to known and trusted wireless devices, |
| numbers were dialled in the hope of finding a computer | | | | blocking access to any interloper. This, although not |
| on the other end of the line. | | | | secure against dedicated crackers, provides a more |
| If a network is found, then the potentialconsequences | | | | than adequate protection to dissuade the nosy or the |
| can range from the fairly innocuous to the criminal. At | | | | vast majority of war-drivers. |
| the very lowest level a third-party can connect to the | | | | Too few people enable this basic protection, or are |
| network and access the Internet connection from the | | | | even aware it exists. However in some regards |
| router. If the legitimate owner of the network is on a | | | | protecting your network can be as essential as your |
| capped service this can consume a considerable | | | | childhood inoculation against tetanus. So please, take |
| chunk of their bandwidth, leading to extra charges | | | | just a few minutes of your time to configure your |
| being levied for resources which they never realised | | | | WEP encryption, and to help protect yourself. |