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Catching a Virus Writer
Kelly Martin, 2004-06-02

With the consumer WiFi explosion, launching a virus into the wild has never been easier and more anonymous than it is today.

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Anonymous (1 replies)
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Roger
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wifi and a good time was had by all 2004-06-05
x (4 replies)
I think your article was wrongfully labeled, as it is really about anonymity via wifi, not about virus release. When is the last time you even saw a virus in person?? (unless you mean worm, which is very different)

I've been using long-range wifi techniques pointing into metro areas for several years now, just as you described, and I find it worrisome that you leaked this powerful (though obvious) technique. Dude skilled folks already know this -- all you are doing is helping the lame spammers and miscreants catch up with the rest of us.

However, skilled folks like myself not only already know of this technique, but we also know enough to use it in a proper way that will keep us from ever being identified. Less skilled, or more criminally minded (implying less technical savvy) will surely make many mistakes that law enforcement can use to identify them. I won't list them here, but if you think about it for a minute they are really obvious (picture a virii releaser, spammer, blackhat, etc who is using a wifi link to do evil, then on the same connection, checks his/her personal email, or logs into their IM account)... Imagine these dumbfvcks actually using PUBLIC open proxies, which all log by default and the logs are easily recoverable by law enforcement. (private non-logging proxies with crypto are TRIVIAL to set up if you know what you are doing)

People like myself have thought of these things and will *never* get caught. Bring out the FCC van and have fun tracing my 6 degree beam width signal to the top of the large complex I'm in (for a short time before I move on).. hahaa, good luck guys :) Maybe with a helicopter and a lot of patience. Funny thing: did you know that you can chain those little one watt amp's in a serial connection to boost the signal? :) Shit I'm hitting networks miles away.

To be fair though, it *is* possible to trace wireless hacking. Picture Kevin Mitnick on a cellphone. Read route's "Hacker's Challenge" (one of the scenarios is about catching a wifi interloper). It's being done. There are special "direction finding" antenna you can get for this.. and it won't be easy but you can work your way back to the source eventually. Thing is, if the source is just a dude with a laptop, then that means he doesn't have the amps and giant antenna, so he's close. And if he *does* have the amps and giant antenna, like me, then he's... well he's not strolling down the street or at a table at starbucks. They are stationary or in a comfy van with carpet on the walls and full of hot chicks. Ok I made up the chicks, but the van is surprisingly roomy. Ok I made up the van too.

In any case, yeah right now the underground is trouncing the shit out of The Man. In some respects I like this, in others I find it scarey because god-save-us from the real threats like real-deal terrorists with dirty nukes etc. I may be hacking the planet anonymously, but at least I'm ultimately on the side of personal freedom and sanity. Coming from a wifi link near you,
x

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Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/246/26631#26631
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