Saturday, October 26, 2002
Just How Common IS Wireless Hacking?
Posted by Brad Adrian in "NEWS" @ 02:30 PM
http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/19776.html
Judging by all the interest lately in things like "warchalking" and all the comments made by IT professionals, I'd pretty much concluded that WiFi networks are getting hacked left and right these days. However, this interesting article on the WirelessNewsFactor site describes a more realistic viewpoint.
"The world of wireless hacking has yet to see the equivalent of some of the highly publicized hacks that hit wired computing in the past. With the exception of one well-publicized incident last year -- someone claimed the ability to intercept data being transmitted at a Best Buy store -- nothing has gone awry enough to give wireless hacking the same reputation as the dreaded conventional variety. But that is not to say it cannot happen."
Now, I know that getting a free ride on the Internet is pretty common and easy to do, but just how much real intrusion HAS been made into private corporate networks? I have to admit that I've heard a lot of warnings about the risks of WiFi, but no stories of real hacks. I guess I should have more misgivings about using my WiFi-enabled Pocket PC, but it sure seems like the warnings are over-hyped...Unless you know something I don't.
Judging by all the interest lately in things like "warchalking" and all the comments made by IT professionals, I'd pretty much concluded that WiFi networks are getting hacked left and right these days. However, this interesting article on the WirelessNewsFactor site describes a more realistic viewpoint.
"The world of wireless hacking has yet to see the equivalent of some of the highly publicized hacks that hit wired computing in the past. With the exception of one well-publicized incident last year -- someone claimed the ability to intercept data being transmitted at a Best Buy store -- nothing has gone awry enough to give wireless hacking the same reputation as the dreaded conventional variety. But that is not to say it cannot happen."
Now, I know that getting a free ride on the Internet is pretty common and easy to do, but just how much real intrusion HAS been made into private corporate networks? I have to admit that I've heard a lot of warnings about the risks of WiFi, but no stories of real hacks. I guess I should have more misgivings about using my WiFi-enabled Pocket PC, but it sure seems like the warnings are over-hyped...Unless you know something I don't.
