The security problems posed by wireless networking are greater than the experts once feared. Chip maker Intel Corp. released new information about security vulnerabilities in its Centrino wireless
software. Security researchers demonstrated how they could exploit these flaws to take over a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop "with startling ease." On Aug. 1, Intel issued a warning about three flaws, including
one that would enable an attacker to take remote control of a computer over the air. On the next day, two researchers demonstrated such an attack at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas. The
researchers decided against doing a live demonstration for fear that the bad guys would be in the audience. Instead, they showed a video that left out certain details but was still "plenty scary,"
according to
Business Week. The demonstrator took about a minute to take complete control of an Apple Computer MacBook Pro using a Dell laptop. But how are these vulnerabilities worse than,
say, spyware? Instead of merely seeing what you do on your computer and sending that information to shady groups of advertisers, these new vulnerabilities are much more frightening. They allow hackers
to bypass a computer's defense mechanisms, including file encryption. It doesn't get much worse than having someone take complete control of your computer. And while Intel is the first Wi-Fi provider
to announce these problems, the article says it's a safe bet that "there are similar problems with any type of Wi-Fi radio working with any operating system." Now might be a good time to make sure
your neighbors are cool.
Read the whole story at Business Week »
