Archive for February, 2010

Wi Fi Hackers!

It’s an invasion with a twist: People who think they are signing on to the Internet through a wireless hotspot might actually be connecting to a look-alike network, created by a malicious user who can steal sensitive information, said Geoff Bickers, a special agent for the FBI’s Los Angeles cyber squad.

It is not clear how many people have been victimized, and few suspects have been charged with Wi-Fi hacking. But Bickers said that over the last couple of years, these hacking techniques have become increasingly common, and are often undetectable. The risk is especially high at cafes, hotels and airports, busy places with heavy turnover of laptop users, authorities said.

“Wireless is a convenience, that’s why people use it,” Bickers said. “There’s an axiom in the computer world that convenience is the enemy of security. People don’t use wireless because they want to be secure. They use wireless because it’s easy.”

For Mark Loveless, just one letter separated security from scam.

Logging on to his hotel’s free wireless Internet in San Francisco last month, Loveless had two networks to choose between on his laptop screen — same name, one beginning with a lowercase letter, one with a capital. He chose the latter and, as he had done earlier that day, connected. But this time, a screen popped up asking for his log-in and password.

Loveless, a 46-year-old security analyst from Texas, immediately disconnected. A former hacker, he knew an attack when he saw one, he said.

Most Internet users do not.

About 14.3 million American households use wireless Internet, and this figure is projected to grow to nearly 49 million households by 2010, according to JupiterResearch, which specializes in business and technology market research.

“There’s literally probably millions of laptops in the U.S. that are configured to join networks named Linksys or D-Link when they are available,” said Corey O’Donnell, vice president of marketing for Authentium, a company that provides security software. “So if I’m a hacker, it’s as easy as setting up a network with one of those names and waiting for the fish to come.”

Linksys and D-Link are two of the many commercial brands of wireless routers, products that allow a user to connect to the Internet using radio frequency.

As the field of wireless connectivity expands, so too does a hacker’s playground. More than 300 municipalities across the country are planning or already operating Wi-Fi service.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last month announced plans for citywide Wi-Fi in 2009. USC already offers free wireless, and by the end of March, Los Angeles International Airport will officially offer wireless at all its terminals under a new contract with T-Mobile.

Some airlines already offer Wi-Fi at LAX. “There are no signs for any service at all, so if any passenger is accessing a free wireless service … they should be cautious,” said Nancy Castles, an airport spokeswoman.

A survey at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport by Authentium revealed 76 peer-to-peer networks, or access points that are connected to via another user’s computer, with 27 of them advertising access to free Wi-Fi — a trademarked term for the technical specifications of wireless local area network operation. The company also found that three of the networks had fake or misleading addresses, one sign the hotspots could be hackers.

“At a busy place like O’Hare, in one hour a bad guy could get 20 laptops to connect to his network and steal the users’ account information,” said Ray Dickenson, vice president of product management at Authentium, who conducted the survey last September.

Corporate networks are sometimes the most vulnerable, as employers push for a more mobile workforce without always educating its users on the security risks of wireless Internet.

Many workers rely on corporate firewalls in the office and an automatic default network setting that links them to their corporate networks. Outside the office, the firewall is no longer in place. That means the computer is unprotected. Once hackers have “got a toehold in a network, it’s pretty much game over,” Bickers said.

Most laptops are configured to search for open wireless points and common wireless names, whether or not the user is trying to get online. That leaves people open to hacking.

In two new attacks, called “evil twin” and “man in the middle,” hackers create Wi-Fi access points titled whatever they like, such as “Free Airport Wireless” or an established, commercial name.

In the “evil twin” attack, the user turns on a laptop, which may automatically try to connect. When it does, it is connecting to a fake access point, or “evil twin,” and the hacker gets into personal files, steals passwords or plants a virus.

The hacker can become a “man in the middle” when he funnels the user’s Internet connection through this false access point to a true wireless connection. The unsuspecting Wi-Fi surfer may then proceed to enter credit card information, access e-mail or reveal other sensitive data that can be tracked by the hacker. Meanwhile, the session appears ordinary to the user.

Although the FBI has been aware of this kind of attack for about five years, its use has increased in the last couple of years and is being seen as a “huge threat,” Bickers said.

“The actual tools you need, the software, the hardware, etc., to mount this sort of attack has become insanely easy to acquire,” Bickers said. “You need a laptop, wireless radio and the ability to download a free tool and run it. It literally is child’s play.”

The creation of the access point itself is not generally considered criminal; it’s what happens next — tracking people’s Internet use — that can cross the line.

These hacking techniques are considered to be “tantamount to a computer intrusion and illegal interception of wireless communication that can be prosecuted under federal law,” Bickers said.

But computer evidence and statistics are hard to come by, said Arif Alikhan, a former federal prosecutor and former chief of the cyber and intellectual property crimes section for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles. People can unwittingly compromise their computers in a multitude of ways, and often there’s no trace.

“You can tell how many burglaries occur because you’re victimized, and someone knows they’re victimized,” Alikhan said. “People don’t always know if someone is using their wireless network, and it’s very difficult to tell unless you trace back every single connection…. It happens more than I think we all realize.”

The U.S. attorney’s office will not comment on pending investigations; however, wireless hacking cases are relatively new, and few if any current cases involve “evil twin” or “man in the middle” attacks, law enforcement authorities said.

“This is a classic case of law and law enforcement being a little behind the technological curve,” Bickers said.

Other types of wireless-related Internet hacking cases have recently popped up across the country.

Nicholas Tombros was found guilty in 2004, under the federal Can-Spam Act, of “war-spamming.” He drove around the Venice Beach area with his laptop and used unprotected wireless access points to send spam. He could receive up to three years in federal prison at his sentencing next month.

He is the only defendant who has been charged in a case involving wireless hacking by the Greater Los Angeles section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s cyber and intellectual property crimes division since it was established in October 2001, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Wesley L. Hsu, deputy chief of the section.

“They are technically difficult cases…. They’re difficult cases to put together, so law enforcement is having to sort of catch up,” Hsu said.

On Sept. 30, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law the Wi-Fi User Protection Bill, which aims to block unauthorized sharing of open Wi-Fi networks and inform users of the dangers of unsecured networks. Starting in October, warnings and tips will be required on all wireless home-networking equipment sold in California.

The law specifically addresses “piggybacking” — or the use of another person’s wireless network to access the Internet — a problem that security experts say has been a concern for years.

paulxty
http://www.articlesbase.com/online-promotion-articles/wi-fi-hackers-122303.html

GPS iPAQ Reviews – How To Choose The Best System For You

There is no doubt that Global Positioning System (GPS) capability is one of the most amazing features of any PDA, and you’ll want to take into account the various products that are out there on the market. A straight forward GPS iPAQ review can help you find the most suitable GPS card and navigation software for your iPAQ, that also fits your needs. Finding a reliable GPS iPAQ review is not hard. There are many web sites that review all kinds of technology, including the most popular brands of GPS card and navigation software.

When looking at a GPS iPAQ review, make sure that the product is being reviewed honestly. Some web sites will accept commissions from the very companies they are supposed to review, and this can make their reviews an interest that is not of your interest, so beware. It’s easy to see id a certain site is affiliated with the manufacturer as it will give direct links to the suppliers’ website, along with encouraging text such as “click here for the best GPS system!” etc. Also, you should look for reviews that give you detailed comparison along many factors.

Once you have found a site that seems as honest and impartial as possible, it is time to look at the various GPS navigation systems and see what each has to offer. There are several GPS navigation systems that work with Bluetooth technology and a GPS card to provide excellent mapping capabilities and great directions to virtually any location. Navman is one such system but there are many others as well.

One of the most important features to look for is the availability of downloads and uPDAtes for the navigation system software. As you can probably tell from driving around your neighborhood, street names change quickly, and new developments, with new streets are constantly being added. The ability to quickly download uPDAted maps is a must for any GPS navigation system.

You should also look for what’s called “voice enabled navigation solution”. Simply put, this means you can have your iPAQ tell you in human voice where to go, where and when to turn, how much distance and so on. Just imagine you are driving and need to look in your iPAQ map all the time. Does that make sense? No – you want the system to give you directions through human voice. This is how you can drive your way to your destination.

Once you have found the perfect GPS navigation system for your iPAQ or other PDA, you will never want to go back to a paper map again. Instead of hopelessly trying to fold the map and stuff it back in the glove box, your map will be constantly at your side and always up to date. This is how we drive in the 21st century.

Ron Hel-Or
http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/gps-ipaq-reviews-how-to-choose-the-best-system-for-you-59811.html

Bbg Communications – Australia Telecommunications History

The telecommunications sector in Australia is predominantly saturated by telecoms provider, Telstra. But despite this, space is also a playing ground for  other telephone carriers which include Optus, AAPT and Powertel, Soul, Vodafone and Hutchison 3G.

According to BBG Communications, the main telephony network in Australia is connected through optical fibre networks, with households tapped to the network through copper lines that are linked in local exchanges. For mobile telephony, Australia runs on the GSM platform, like those in Europe and majority of its neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific. In 2003, 3G mobile phone services were introduced, adding another plus to the generally considered good domestic and international telecommunications services in the country.

Primarily the Optus satellites C1 D1 and D2, are the domestic satellite systems in use for very remote areas.

Telstra, Optus, Nextgen Networks, PowerTel and AAPT are the main Intercity Networks with a collection of other providers having regional networks or Eastern Coast links.

Telstra is the main user of microwave links in remote areas; WIN Television provides a network of microwave towers for distributions of Television, and provides common carrier services. Other providers such as Agile Communications provide backhaul services in South Australia.

Section 51(v) of the Australian Constitution gave the new national government power over all postal, telegraphic, telephonic and ‘other like services’. The last clause embraced future developments in the telecommunications front, which from then meant radio, television and the internet.

The colonial telecommunications network infrastructure (staff, switches, wires, handsets, buildings etc) were handed over to the Commonwealth and became the responsibility of the first Postmaster-General (PMG).  The PMG position is a Federal Ministerial post,  overseeing the Postmaster-General’s Department that was in charge of all domestic telephone, telegraph and postal services. With 16,000 staff, it accounted for 90% of the new federal bureaucracy. That figure went up to over 120,000 staff (around 50% of the federal bureaucracy) by the late sixties.

Public phones were then available only in few post offices. Other limited phones installations were made available to major businesses, government agencies, institutions and among propertied residences. There were around 33,000 phones across Australia, with 7,502 telephone subscribers in inner Sydney and 4,800 in the Melbourne central business district. A trunk line ran between Melbourne and Sydney starting 1907, with extension to Adelaide established in 1914, Brisbane in 1923, Perth in 1930 and Hobart in 1935.

Meanwhile, overseas cable links to Australia remained to be privately owned and managed by then, reflecting the dynamics of imperial politics, demands on the new government’s resources and the allocation of responsibilities at that time. The PMG department became responsible for some international shortwave services – particularly from the 1920s – and for a new Coastal Radio Service in 1911, with the first of a network of stations operational in February 1912. Australia and New Zealand had ratified the 1906 Berlin Radio-telegraph Convention in 1907.

During the 1930s the PMG became responsible for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). PMG’s management of the telecommunications network ABC echoed BBC’s own story.

As privatization has been changing the landscape of all service and utility providers, many tend to romanticize and era when enterprises were supposedly ran not for profit but for service.  It has become fashionable for some quarters to praise those times when PMG was supposedly an enlightened technocratic management, moved only for the national interest, and public service, over and above profit.

The image of a benevolent PMG is not without problems, as it is apparent that decisions on location and management of facilities were reflections of local political demands and the ‘Australian Settlement’ first articulated by Alfred Deakin.  The PMG was, after all, a major employer in rural areas, the Minister generally came from the Country Party and there was an emphasis on in-house development and local manufacturing.

The observation then was that governments of whatever party affiliation benefited from the organisation’s revenue generating nature.  Many would say that PMG was not a discrete statutory body, with no power on its own to retain its revenues, and was captive to national political dynamics.

In 1982, a Davidson Enquiry on Australia’s telecommunications services sector, made a recommendation to end Telecom Australia’s monopoly. In the following year, Aussat Pty Ltd, another government agency, had been established to operate domestic satellite telecommunication and broadcasting services.  But  Aussat’s charter did not allow it to be a direct competitor to Telecom.  A case in point is its charter’s prohibition on interconnecting public switched traffic with Telecom’s network. Aussat’s viability as a telecommunications player was greatly undermined by difficulties in raising capital, tepid government support and spiraling operation costs.

It wasn’t until 1985 that Australia’s first geostationary communications satellite was operational; by late 1990, however, it was saddled with debts amounting to about $400 million.

The Australian Telecommunications Commission was restructured, giving way to the Australian Telecommunications Corporation.  The new entity traded as Telecom Australia, in 1989. It was also the same year which saw the last domestic telegram handled by Telecom, as responsibility for telegram operations was handed over to Australia Post.

There were proposals floating for a merger of Aussat and OTC, but all were rejected in favor of the disposal of the satellite operator to a non-government entity that would be allowed to compete with Telecom.

Immediately after, Optus Communications – a private sector entity owned by a consortium that included BellSouth – was given Australia’s second general carrier licence.  Optus proceeded to purchase the Satellite assets with many of the Non Satellite Assets remaining with the Government as part of Telstra.  Cable & Wireless, privatized after several decades of UK government ownership, took a controlling stake in Optus in 1998 before control passed to SingTel in 2001.

Optus was initially allowed to cater the national long distance and international telephone calls service in the Australian telecommunications market. The restrictions on  players that can enter the general telephone market until 1997 and ‘pro-competition’ mechanisms under the Trade Practices Act 1974, among which guaranteed access to Telecom’s existing infrastructure on reasonable terms, meant to ensure Optus’ viability.

Competition in long distance corporate voice and data service operations was so steep. It was also felt by Telstra versus AAPT which was active from 1991, MCI Communications, later absorbed by the ill-fated WorldCom, was an early major shareholder of AAPT but got out in 1994. New Zealand’s Todd Corporation took a 24.5% stake in AAPT in 1992. In 1995 AAPT launched a mobile phone service, using Vodafone as its network supplier, acquired a 50%  share of the Australian ISP connect.com.au Pty Ltd and bought NewsNet ITN. In the same year SingTel acquired a 24.5% shareholding in AAPT.

AAPT went on to muscle up. In 1996, it bought 40% of Cellular One Communications, followed by QNET Communications. In the same year it gained a carrier licence, offering long distance services to the residential market and building communications networks for the South Australian and Victorian governments.  Subsequently, it moved to 100% of CorpTEL Communications, its AAPT Sat-Tel satellite joint venture, connect.com.au and Cellular One. US-operator Primus acquired Axicorp in 1997, gaining a carriers license and expanding into internet services.

AOTC had a brand makeover as Telstra Corporation in 1993, trading internationally as Telstra starting the same year and domestically from 1995. Its attempts for expansion to Indonesia and other Asian markets did not live up to the company’s expectations, with the group winding back overseas involvements in 1997-98. In 1996 Telstra recorded the largest profit in Australian corporate history, some $3.8 billion and was partly privatised in November 1997 through sale by the Commonwealth of around 33.3% of its shareholding.

After Australia’s telecommunications market was fully opened up to full competition in July 1997, privatization followed. A further 16.6% was sold by the Commonwealth in September 1999 bringing the shares sold to a total of 49.9%.  This figure is safely below 50.1%, at which rate, any sale of government-owned properties involves legislation. With the new regime came the adoption of a single national phone numbering scheme and any-to-any connectivity requirements.  Mobile phones, fixed-line phones and other devices was designed to communicate with each other irrespective of whether the service was provided by Telstra or one of its competitors. In November 2006, an additional 33% was sold by the government. The remaining 17% was placed in a Future Fund to provide full separation from government and regulations. This followed to avoid many possible conflicts of interest with the government being primary shareholder and competition regulator.

By July of 1997 the Australian telecommunications sector was fully liberalized for full competition with removal of restrictions on the number of licensed operators and anti-competition mechanisms.

By the end of 1998, there were over 20 licensed telecommunications carriers in Australia, with several hundred other entities using those carriers’ facilities to provide services. By May 2002, this figure climbed to 99 licensed telecommunications carriers.  The Australian Communications Authority estimated that the benefits to consumers of telecommunications services from competition in 2000/1 were between $5.5 billion and $12 billion.

Broderick Booth Goran
http://www.articlesbase.com/communication-articles/bbg-communications-australia-telecommunications-history-736189.html

Can I use the G1 internet without the services using wireless?

I just bought the T-mobile G1 and didnt get the sevices yet but when I turned it on and it connected me to my gmail account when i put the info and let me use youtube…So am I able to use it using wireless without the services? and if so will I get charged if I do?

You will get charged for the internet yes. I am surprised that youtbue and internet is working for you. Usually a message will pop up saying "data service required." It is best to get a data package to avoid extra charges.

What is the best pda/phone for Sprint or Nextel -?

I am trying to decide on the Mogul but understand there are some bad reviews – any opinions or recommendations? I also like the treo’s too…

Thanks !!
I use my I930 for everything – I love the sandisk so I have to have that and of course bluetooth which my phone does not have currently – I am a organization – holic so …..

mogul or q 9c

What the heck would you do if suddenly there was no internet, TV, or mobile communications?

Write letters and read books,

Mobile Software?

I want to set up a mobile service centre. what softwares I should need to install applications and upload ringtones, singtones etc to various handsets. please help me.

pls visit these links, they have many softwares for mobile devices:

http://www.getjar.com/software/

http://www.download.com/2001-2005-0.html

http://www.topdownloads.net/software/browse.php?category=244

http://www.vmobilesoftware.com/

Hi,theres a new service in india which lets you earn money just by receiving sms on your mobiles. Just visit this link to get more details of registration and its free and genuine check it out yourself guys…. its not a spam

http://www.mginger.com/index.jsp?inviteId=387605

Specially for students who want to have wallet full for their needs… and for everyone who cares for money…its free

Wifi Hotspots?

If I travel with my laptop and find a Wifi hotspot, will my laptop automatically detect the wifi connection or do I have to alter any of my computer settings.

Yes and No…. Depending on the settings the hotspot has.. Example would be if it uses WPA then you will need the WPA key…. But if it is unsecure then yeah bassicly you can ask windows to connect to it.

What website can i buy an unlock cellphone that uses suncom wireless services?

I am looking for websites where i can buy cheap unlock suncom cellphones.

Since Suncom Wireless is a GSM carrier using GSM phones, you can get any GSM phone(it doesn’t have to be a Suncom-branded phone) and use it with your Suncom account. Type in "Unlocked GSM Phones" in Google or whichever search engine you use and you’ll find plenty of websites selling unlocked phones. Most sites sell unlocked phones at full retail or higher because they’re unlocked and usually unbranded.

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