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The Feds can own your WLAN too
tom's networking ^ | March 31, 2005 | Humphrey Cheung

Posted on 04/05/2005 11:34:01 AM PDT by atomic_dog

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To: TommyDale

The DQ in my town has free access. All anyone could do, usually is trace it to a MAC address, and if someone pays 45$ cash for a wi-fi card, how could anyone find out who did something? Even if you could somehow get it to a laptop, it still wouldn't help in tracing someone down.


21 posted on 04/05/2005 12:42:45 PM PDT by stuartcr
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To: Jack of all Trades

That was some seriously good dark humor!


22 posted on 04/05/2005 12:44:16 PM PDT by hunter112 (Total victory, both in the USA and the Middle East!)
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To: flashbunny
Another one of the reasons I would never, ever use wireless LAN / internet access.

On my home wlan, just set up a few days ago, I use the ethernet hard-wired desktop for any sensitive internet access.

Am going to start testing the WPA security this afternoon (Linux clients).

But believe me, our trailer park wouldn't be considered a hot spot for wireless drive-bys anyway.

23 posted on 04/05/2005 12:45:13 PM PDT by steve86
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To: TommyDale
WEP in combination with MAC address limitations (only allow specific MAC addresses) and TURNING OFF THE BROADCAST OF THE SSID will help. Most people do none of these, and they automatically use the default channel 6, set at the factory. Really stupid stuff.

Deserves repeating. If you ain't doing the above, you really shouldn't be doing WiFi

24 posted on 04/05/2005 12:46:12 PM PDT by zeugma (Come to the Dark Side...... We have cookies! (Made from the finest girlscouts!))
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To: stuartcr
Yep, someone could do a lot of cyber damage, from public-access wi-fi, and it would be extremely hard to trace it.

Hard, but not impossible, as long as you don't change your MAC address. For true anonymity, randomly generate your MAC when war-driving.

25 posted on 04/05/2005 12:49:52 PM PDT by zeugma (Come to the Dark Side...... We have cookies! (Made from the finest girlscouts!))
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To: stuartcr
All anyone could do, usually is trace it to a MAC address

When you walked out of Best Buy with the PCMCIA wireless card, with RFID chip in packaging, the Patriot Database instantly recorded your MAC address and matched it with the receipt. The address was verified later when you sent in your rebate request on the card, and a third time when you logged in from the laptop to check on the rebate status. A cash purchase would get you off the hook on the first method but not the other two.

26 posted on 04/05/2005 12:50:43 PM PDT by steve86
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To: BearWash

Notice the CIA in PCMCIA.


27 posted on 04/05/2005 12:52:12 PM PDT by steve86
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To: rdb3; chance33_98; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; Bush2000; PenguinWry; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; ...

28 posted on 04/05/2005 12:54:28 PM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: ecurbh
"and broke a 128 bit WEP key in about three minutes."

128 bit key in three minutes? Wouldn't that require trying a 128 factorial of keys? In three minutes? Fbi must have pocket crays computers or a rolling super computer.

29 posted on 04/05/2005 12:55:31 PM PDT by jpsb
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To: hunter112

I've got to try for a little chuckle now and then.

With regard to wireless security at home, I'm more concerned about someone using my connection as an accesss point than about surveilance. I've got WEP and MAC address locks enabled, but I'm really network illiterate. I guess I'll have to look into this WPA thingy.


30 posted on 04/05/2005 12:56:46 PM PDT by Jack of all Trades
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To: Jack of all Trades

Are you using channel 6, set at the factory? Is your SSID being broadcast?


31 posted on 04/05/2005 1:01:45 PM PDT by TommyDale
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To: jpsb

They're not searching the entire keyspace - most APs will let you enter a passphrase which they hash to generate the key. Try a dictionary-based attack on the passphrase, and I'll bet you'd be surprised at how quickly you can get in.


32 posted on 04/05/2005 1:01:52 PM PDT by general_re ("Frantic orthodoxy is never rooted in faith, but in doubt." - Reinhold Niebuhr)
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To: TommyDale

Question I have a wired/wireless (versalink 327) router it's wired caue I like wired networds. But I wonder if it is transmitting and capable of recieving traffic. Anyone?


33 posted on 04/05/2005 1:02:09 PM PDT by jpsb
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To: general_re

Ok, makes sense, thanks.


34 posted on 04/05/2005 1:02:58 PM PDT by jpsb
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To: jpsb
Most wired/wireless routers have a provision to turn off the wired side of things. When I bought my wireless router, I didn't have any wireless cards, but I knew I was going to be getting a couple, so I went ahead and got the wired/wireless Linksys. I had the wireless turned off until I actually needed it.
35 posted on 04/05/2005 1:05:19 PM PDT by zeugma (Come to the Dark Side...... We have cookies! (Made from the finest girlscouts!))
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To: atomic_dog

I'm glad I'm already using most of the countermeasures. I use WPA with a big password, no SSID, MAC filtering, static IP addresses, etc. It still won't stop a dedicated man-in-the-middle attack, but it's safe against anyone who doesn't have a lot of time and dedication and talent to get on my network.

Besides, if it's a casual hijack, there are three completely unsecured networks in my range. It's like being the only guy on the block with a deadbolt on his door, while others just have regular locks or nothing.


36 posted on 04/05/2005 1:06:26 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: jpsb

I'm not familiar with the Westell equipment. I would automatically assume the worst. See if you can disable the wireless portion, since you aren't even using it. I use a separate Access Point for wireless, connected to one port of my hard-wired router. A quick way to test your system is to borrow a laptop from someone you know who has wireless and try it.


37 posted on 04/05/2005 1:07:30 PM PDT by TommyDale
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To: Jack of all Trades
I've got WEP and MAC address locks enabled, but I'm really network illiterate. I guess I'll have to look into this WPA thingy.

You might have to upgrade your firmware to get that, as well as go to Windows XP SP2. My brand-new Linksys had firmware over a year old!

38 posted on 04/05/2005 1:08:23 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: ShadowAce

No worries here. Home network is wired, and internet is dialup.


39 posted on 04/05/2005 1:08:53 PM PDT by BigSkyFreeper ("Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it" - Pope John Paul II)
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To: stuartcr
"All anyone could do, usually is trace it to a MAC address..."

Really? If you believe that, I have some swamp land I'd like to sell you.

40 posted on 04/05/2005 1:09:30 PM PDT by TommyDale
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