12-09-2002, 02:38 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Feds Label Wi-Fi a Terrorist Tool
I admit it - I've been sloppy about securing my WiFi network. My WAP doesn't allow me to turn off SSID broadcasting, and the whole MAC address method of securing seems like a major hassle to me. Am I a criminal? Potentially, according to the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security (that name scares me a little).
"Attention, Wi-Fi users: The Department of Homeland Security sees wireless networking technology as a terrorist threat. That was the message from experts who participated in working groups under federal cybersecurity czar Richard Clarke and shared what they learned at this week's 802.11 Planet conference. Wi-Fi manufacturers, as well as home and office users, face a clear choice, they said: Secure yourselves or be regulated.
"Homeland Security is putting people in place who will be in a position to say, 'If you're going to get broken into ... we're going to start regulating,'" said Cable and Wireless security architect Shannon Myers in a panel dubbed "Homeland Security vs. Wi-Fi."
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12-09-2002, 02:42 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 68
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Heh... I like the last option there the most :wink:
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12-09-2002, 02:44 AM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Well, I have WEP on. Never bothered to look for SSID broadcasting or MAC control.
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12-09-2002, 02:48 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 533
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I have been meaning to enable WEP and have never got around to it. I have been using MAC address control for the longest time, but some new Fujitsu laptops (with integrated 802.11b) are not working with MAC address filtering, and I am totally stumped.....a MAC address should be a MAC address, but, alas, not so  Not to take this thread OT, but if anyone has any suggestions.....
WEP will be happening within the next week or two.
-Brian
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12-09-2002, 02:49 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 57
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I am all for security...
But this may be going a bit far.Headline : Terrorist Warchalkers were sent to Guantanomo... more later. . I actually enjoy seeing what is out there in major cities but if I am going to be labeled a terrorist no Thanks... I will look into securing my own system but again this may be going a bit far... Jason how sure are we that they are going to these levels?
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12-09-2002, 03:07 AM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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I have WEP enabled, MAC access control, and SSID is not set to broadcast (and it has been changed from the default)...
I don't like my neighbors, can't you tell? :wink:
Steve
__________________
"My eyes are rolling back in my head so far I can see my grey matter bubbling and frothing from reading this thread....bleh." JD
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12-09-2002, 03:07 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 390
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What makes you think such scenario will not happen? It's enough to be undersuspicion and labeled enemy combatant. And no, you can't talk to any lawyer or have an open hearing. If your network is being used as tool to exchanged suspicious information. You are part of the terrorist network period.
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12-09-2002, 03:10 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 119
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seriously? I think you should be held accountable if someone 'wardrives' and uses your network connection to broadcast malicious data. Its not difficult to secure a network - even in a mixed mac/pc environment you can at least use hardware address filtering.
The companies who were caught transmitting customer data in clear text earlier this year should have paid a hefty fine.
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12-09-2002, 03:12 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 706
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One of the really scary things here is the issue of regulation. Let's hope that the manufacturers are given sufficient opportunity to react to the potential issues this might raise.
Also, how can the hardware specs be regulated by the US government. If the devices are designed and manufactured outside the US will they be banning imports?
[Soapbox]
Hopefully, the Nth American governments aren't as clueless about technology as their Australian counterparts who, in their infinite wisdom, have passed leglislation to try to censor internet content (specifically porn), destroyed any hope of digital/HD TV being successful in this country and treated the Australian IT community as if they were a bunch of twits
[/Soapbox]
I feel better now :wink:
__________________
Get your Pocket Mojo. Anthony Caruana is the Mojo master. |
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12-09-2002, 03:20 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 30
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I'll just stick this on my list of comforting thoughts. Right there with our secret appeals court upholding secret wiretaps. But only on Americans.
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