I’ve been combing through various local newspapers across Minnesota today to keep up on what’s happening with broadband. There is interesting news in Moorhead where the city wireless Internet service appeared to experience an attack in February this year. (Moorhead was a Round 3 Get Broadband community.)
Apparently the city’s signal was overwhelmed by the signal from a jamming device creating a Denial of Service. Court documents indicate that a “directional antennae” was being used to focus the attack. The attack was traced to a residential home; although a search produced no evidence. Cutting off power to the home did end the attack.
GoMoorhead is the name wireless network that is municipally owned and operated. They serve about 3800 individuals and businesses in the Greater Moorhead area including many at Minnesota State University Moorhead. (Visit the Post-Bulletin for more infromation.)
I tried to find some examples of other cities or communities with similar scares but didn’t come up with much. I did find some articles that I thought were interesting and related:
Wireless Attacks and Penetration Testing – describes 3 types of wireless attack: DoS (denial of service), man-in-the-middle, and ARP poisoning
Your city is going wireless: 7 rules for safe computing – an article by Microsoft that provides some tips to businesses who may be considering using a municipal network for their business networking purposes
Spectrum-Based WiFi Network Attack Threats on the Rise – some examples of other attacks written by a company that provides a solution
DoS Vulnerability Threatens Wireless Networks – dated (2004) but details an AusCERT (that’s Australia’s CERT) advisory on 802.11 and DoS. (CERT advisories are always valuable with lots of tech details – I learned that working for an ISP in 1995!)
working within the internet security realm for the past 22 years i have seen many attacks happen and in various ways.With the new wireless products being placed meaning wimax which uses microwaves and radio waves this produces a much more secure service.Also on every wireless service to secure it better make sure your router is firewalled .I could go on with lots more on this subject but the links shown do exactly what i would suggest.Its up to the end user to make sure his or her system is secure
Jamie,
Thanks for your perspective. It’s great to hear from someone who really knows. And I think you add a great warning to all of us end users – we need to make sure that we are secure!
I recently had an incident where a web site I manage was hacked. In the end Internet security had little to do with it; a post-it note with the password in an open office was probably the culprit. But I had to really think about the security of my computer when I’m using wireless in coffee shops or other public spaces.
Thanks! Ann
warnings that when u use coffee shops wireless services make sure u have a firewall and malware protection as well as anti virus protection up to date ,remember coffee shops do not protect there end users which allows identity theft as well as other things which script kiddies use to make lives difficult.Everyone has blamed service providers for years for there being infiltrated as well as spam and other dangerous happenings which makes our online life not so happy.The thing is service providers dont hold your hands when you go online so only person to blame is you.
Again – a great reminder!
I love that it’s getting easier and easier to get online — but I think that ease definitely comes at a price and so many of us ignore that price (in this case security) until it’s too late. I’ve heard horror stories of identity theft.
Thanks! Ann
most identity theft is from ur own trash which is a shame that in todays world u cant even throw out garbage and expect it to be safe.The world is at your fingertips now just remember it is a big world and u really dont know your neighbors on here.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/ptech/stories/DN-wifiphish_09bus.ART.State.Edition1.366845f.html
thats a site that can explain the terrors of unprotected wifi sites
http://cbs5.com/video/?id=23573@kpix.dayport.com
video on the tpx identity theft
So interesting! I have certainly been guilty of cruising downtown areas for open networks – or course when I get online I think that those people should have protected their network but I haven’t thought nearly as much about the danger to me.
The video mentions the short term cost but long term savings of using a broadband cell modem – I’ll have to look into that, especially when I’m traveling as those are the times that I can recall getting sloppy with what I’ve done online.
Thanks! Ann
thats why wimax will save people in the security side.those cell modems work on wimax but its early technology which is changing now
It’s really exciting to learn more about it. I’d love to have a crystal ball to see what folks are doing online and doing to get online 5, 10, 15 years from now.
Sadly I think that something drastic will have to happen (more than TJ Max and their costly mistakes) to force people to sit up and take notice. For better or for worse I suspect that something will happen in the next 5 years.
ann being in the security side there are many horror stories out there even worse than tj max.Banks have been hit,govt offices also.War driving is popular as well as war walking to get open networks which are unprotected.Only 28% of wireless networks are protected from being infested and controlled.
http://security.itworld.com/4357/070531donttrustgoo/page_1.html
some more reading for u
http://wireless.itworld.com/4285/070531earthquake/page_1.html
now u can see where technology is heading
http://mrtmag.com/networks_and_systems/mag/radio_wild/
something of interest
Jamie,
This info is so terrific. I need to take time (hopefully tonight) and read through all of it. In fact, I’d like to do a feature on WiMax and/or security in the next eNews.
http://www.blandinfoundation.org/bsite/enewsletter.htm
Would it be OK to contact you once I’m further along with the story?
anything u need dont be afraid to ask
ann i just recieved this article and thought would explain some things
TOP STORY
Practice ‘safe surfing’ with public Wi-Fi signals
Scott Dunn By Scott Dunn
http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/070614/#story1
[Note from Ann – sorry we had the whole article here but the Windows Secrets folks preferred that we just link to them rather than post the ful text article here.]
Jamie,
This is great! Where did you get it? I’d like to provide a link to the source if we can and/or make sure it’s OK with the author that we post it here.
I used to be a librarian so I’m always a stickler for copyright details 🙂
But the article is fantastic! Thanks! Ann
http://windowssecrets.com/comp/070614/
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=security&articleId=9024406
hopefully this article can open eyes on what happens using p2p sites
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/02/05/phone-the-world-for-nearly-nothing-using-the-web-and-cheap-services/
This is so helpful to me – thank you! The article points to an International Long Distance Checker (http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/) now that’s based in the UK – but I bet it gives me some good leads for Ireland. Also for folks who aren’t looking for calls to or from the UK it does a great job of describing the difference between various calling options. Thanks!! Ann
your very welcome and there is a few more options but im not sure how they are based and if can be used out of country.Also check into skype u can use it for near all u want.I use it for business contacts.
I’m looking into Skype and some related services for an article for Blandin, as well as my trip. I’ll be sure to post a link to the article once it’s done.
good also as far as i understand,walmart is going to be selling skype.also check the iphone u may be impressed
http://security.itworld.com/4337/070622pentagon/page_1.html
even the govt gets hit