Google Searches Used to Convict Wireless Hacker
WebProNews' Philipp Lenssen today picks up on a CNET News report noting that computer expert Matthew Schuster got 15 months in jail for hacking his ex-employer, Alpha Computer Services — and Schuster was convicted party due to having made such Google searches as "make device interfere wireless network."
"Court documents are ambiguous and don't reveal how the FBI discovered his search terms," CNET's Declan McCullagh writes. "That could have happened in one of three ways: an analysis of his browser's history and cache; an Alpha employee monitoring the company's wireless connection; or a subpoena to Google from the police for search terms tied to his Internet address or cookie."
"In this case, an Alpha employee might well have screened the logs, as Matthew used their system to search Google," Lenssen writes. "In other cases, a subpoena to Google is also likely, and we might not be able to ever know when that happens — at least when the government is behind the request."
As Platinax's Brian Turner points out, this "does demonstrate increasing concern over privacy issues, not least the fact that search engines such as Google can assign personal names to recorded behaviour, if subscribed to their services."
Software Services said:
Jun 19, 08 at 1:03 amEight Steps Toward Securing A Wireless Network
Secure wireless networking can be a reality, but only if you employ some very straightforward techniques. For most of your customers, all of the necessary elements are readily available right out of the box. For those customers with special needs, their security can be ensured with third-party security systems. Security should no longer be an issue to prevent the adoption of wireless technology for most any business today.
Many of your customers may have resisted deploying wireless networking solutions because of security concerns. They know that an improperly configured wireless local area network (WLAN) can open their network to intrusion or attacks. If you can demonstrate that wireless networks can be secure, then you can also show them that the benefits of wireless,including employee mobility and the ability to meet their own customers’ needs,greatly exceed the security risks.
In fact, there are eight steps you should take to ensure the security of your customers’ WiFi networks:
1. Do a site survey.
2. Strike a balance between convenience and security.
3. Control transmission range.
4. Turn off SSID Broadcasts.
5. Change default passwords.
6. Employ WEP/WPA encryption.
7. Use MAC address filters.
8. Consider a wireless-VPN solution.
For More:
http://www.crn.com/white-box/59201623