Wireless Network Security – When Wardriving Becomes a Crime
Plenty of people wardrive. Cruising around looking for wireless network locations isn’t illegal – but hacking into the network to access sensitive information is. ‘Sniffers’ are illegal programs that can be installed in hacked wireless networks, and used to download information like customers credit card numbers and other personal information.
The Renagade Wardrivers
An international identity theft ring was discovered operating out of Miami in August, that was credited with the theft of over 40 million credit and debit card numbers. This is the largest credit card and identity theft scheme yet, with 11 people from the US, Ukraine, Estonia and China being indicted including a former Secret Service informer.
The ring was engaged in wardriving to locate large wireless networks that handled sensitive information, like retail stores that accepted credit and debit cards for purchases. The wardrivers targeted retailers such as BJs Wholesale Club, TJX Companies, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Sports Authority, Barnes & Noble, DSW and Forever 21, defrauding the companies and consumers alike out of millions of dollars. Their activities included encrypting debit card numbers to withdraw money from ATMs as well as fraudulent purchases using the credit card numbers.
The stolen information accessed through the wireless network was also sold to other criminals in the States and abroad, widening the pool of offenders and making it difficult to trace all of the fraudulent activity. Federal officials are still warning people to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities on their credit report immediately.
Protecting Your WiFi Connection
If you have a wireless network installed for your own laptop, security is paramount! This operation is an example of highly organized ring of criminals, but hackers are everywhere and it is a simple matter once a network is hacked to sniff out not only credit and debit card information but password, bank account numbers and personal identifying information as well!
