| One of the biggest concerns as the wireless | | | | can get the latest white papers on these things. |
| world grows is that of security of data; especially | | | | You should sign up for online security white |
| personal data. Many people do what they call | | | | papers. |
| war-driving to find an open WiFi network to get | | | | The White Paper Library is powered by Bitpipe, |
| their emails while traveling, although this is a | | | | Inc., the leading syndicator of in-depth Information |
| common practice, it is against the law. There are | | | | Technology Literature. There was recently a case |
| hacker groups and IT security conferences that | | | | in Florida where someone was "War Driving" to |
| people go to, where the retailer type IT people | | | | pick up WiFi signals and stopped in front of |
| also show up and discuss these issues. The | | | | someone's house turns out he inadvertently |
| ramifications of company data falling in the hands | | | | loaded some programs and the icons ended up on |
| of a competitor or snooping opportunist hacker | | | | the host computer as well. The police came and |
| are extremely great. Many of us take several | | | | arrested him. In Silicon Valley this went on quite a |
| Wireless Online Newsletters and read the white | | | | bit, two-guys who kind of invented the idea went |
| papers on the security issues as well. Indeed this | | | | from company to company and did just that and |
| is a problematic issue for companies. | | | | then went into the company to pitch their |
| I seem to recall sitting in a Wal-Mart parking lot | | | | services. Although this was good and a win/win, |
| with a Starbucks next door in a strip center in | | | | today the FBI High-Tech Crimes Division is all over |
| my motor home and getting the Grocery Store | | | | it. |
| Across the street, the gas station and a Mail | | | | In fact one recent GAO report and several |
| Boxes Etc. Indeed I got a couple of others too, | | | | articles in Federal Computer Weekly, and other |
| which seem to be encoded, but most were | | | | oversight newsletters are quite worried as over 1 |
| completely open, meaning I could begin surfing | | | | 3 of all government wireless networks are |
| anytime I had felt like it. Having T-Mobile Service I | | | | somewhat unsecured. I have discussed this and |
| logged on legally to the system as usual, but I | | | | had a conversation with a hacker turned security |
| could have easily took up free bandwidth | | | | computer consultant. Apparently WEP or other |
| elsewhere that day. | | | | such encryption is not even close to secure. |
| I believe that many people buy these OTC | | | | My theory on all of this is to catch the |
| peripherals and Linksys type systems and then | | | | International Terrorists Cells in the United States is |
| simply put them in and turn them on. I understand | | | | that we get full time WiMax in every city and |
| that one large Home Improvement Sore did this | | | | have an algorithm which looks for anomalies to |
| and has fixed their units, but they were wide | | | | see if you can catch those who surf all day Jihad |
| open. Many small businesses all around are open, | | | | websites, and see who they are? Now there is a |
| but probably do not care. Some purposely blast | | | | thought "Reverse WiFi Hacking" to catch |
| WiFi to increase customer base and do so on | | | | International Terrorists, why didn't I think of that? |
| different separate air-gapped systems from their | | | | Think on it. |
| store operations, if you take Bitpipe online you | | | | |