If this doesn't make you run outside and look at your sidewalk, I don't know what will. There's a new urban sport called "War Chalking" where hackers sniff out unprotected WiFi networks and mark the house or apt building with access information in chalk. I am horrified to admit that I had an unprotected newtwork after some problems with my DLink router (tech support had me leave it open to get it working - uh..thanks.) but last night I switched to a new Linksys router and locked things down at last. Anyway, here's an interesting look at WiFi hacking from NewsFactor Network:
"Although wireless hacking is rather new, it already is becoming something of a national pastime. There are clubs around the U.S. that are devoted to so-called "war chalking." "When club members find an access point, they will chalk it on the sidewalk, using a code that says whether the access point is open or closed, and gives the SSID and the channels being used," notes Conorich.
'"People go out on a Friday or Saturday night, walk around and find as many access points as they can as a sort of contest," Conorich said. "In New York City, there is a Web site called NYCwireless that logs all of the Wi-Fi access points seen around the New York City area and lists their addresses, operating channels, and so on."
"Although war chalking is not a threat to the enterprise in and of itself, it can become a prelude to "war driving" -- a game that involves driving around looking for vulnerable access points that may become targets for hack attacks at a later date, Conorich added." Source: NewsFactor Network
Funny you should mention that....I do think there is an upswing going on in the dot com world, but I can't live through thre boom bust again. In terms of WIFI hacking, you are correct, it is not new, but the article I pointed to has a lof of info that is new as well as the chalk stuff. I mentioned the chalk because it is still interesting and there are people who haven't heard it.
If this doesn't make you run outside and look at your sidewalk, I don't know what will. There's a new urban sport called "War Chalking" where hackers sniff out unprotected WiFi networks and mark the house or apt building with access information in chalk. I am horrified to admit that I had an unprotected newtwork after some problems with my DLink router (tech support had me leave it open to get it working - uh..thanks.) but last night I switched to a new Linksys router and locked things down at last. Anyway, here's an interesting look at WiFi hacking from NewsFactor Network: