Networks open to hack attacks

New Plymouth's internet users are being ripped off by tech savvy crooks.

And some wireless users would not know they are being targeted.

Taranaki Daily News computer technician Mike Elliston has found 400 wireless networks operating in an area from New Plymouth's CBD to Merrilands.

More than half were vulnerable to attack.

To find these networks a simple process known as "war-driving" was used.

Wardriving is geek talk for searching for open wireless networks using a laptop or handheld in a moving vehicle.

Quite apart from being used by spotty nerds and crooks, it is employed by police in Queensland, Australia, to warn homes and businesses if their wireless networks are not secure.

With such networks surging in popularity as people opt for wireless broadband internet at home, computer security, or lack of it, is increasingly coming under the spotlight.

Typically a wireless router is able to send a signal within a 50 to 80 metre radius inside which users can surf the internet.

Without proper security passwords and other protections, those users could be anyone within that radius, such as the neighbour's teenage son or a person in a car outside their house.

Apartment dwellers are even more vulnerable.

Of the 400 networks detected by Mr Elliston on Sunday, 73 were completely unsecured meaning anyone with a computer and a wireless receiver could jump on and get free internet straight away.

Of those networks that were protected half were using a largely ineffectual WEP encryption.

Simple video instructions for breaking this type of encryption are available online.

Ron Donghi, a technician at Janko Computers, in New Plymouth, said people often rushed to get their wireless broadband up and running and did not take the 10 minutes to properly secure their wireless network. Often this is as simple as changing the factory security settings.

"The biggest risk is strangers make a connection and start using the allotted bandwidth. This is not so bad if you have a capped rate but if you have a plan that charges you per gigabyte even after you have used your allotted amount you could be in for a larger bill if people are stealing it from you."

And make no mistake, theft is exactly what it is, says Detective Sergeant Greg Gray of New Plymouth police.

"Like everything, crime is evolving and we have to evolve to deal with it," he said. "I know it's an issue but we have had no complaints about such things here that I am aware of."

Should complaints start coming in perpetrators are risking stiff sentences.

Unauthorised access of a computer can bring with it two years' jail. Accessing computers for dishonest purposes, such as identity theft and credit card fraud, carries the possibility of seven years in the clink. "One of the problems is if people have a set amount of data and if they don't go over that data rate they might not know their wireless network is being used by someone else. Then if they do know someone is using it, there are other issues around determining who is doing it," Mr Gray said.

While there is potential for wireless hackers to also peer at personal computer files when stealing internet access, Mr Donghi said this had not been a problem in Taranaki so far as he was aware.

"Mostly it's just people logging on to their neighbour's wireless network. Most internet service providers, if you call them up, will help you increase the security of your network."