Feb 27, 2008 11:00 pm US/Eastern
Unsecured Wi-Fi Could Compromise Identity
SWARTHMORE, Pa. (CBS 3) ―
The wireless internet signal you
rely on for convenience could be making things easier for internet
intruders. Police said hackers could be
using your computer to download illegal music, child porn, or even your bank
information.
Jamie Smith details how wireless pirates can frame you for their crimes.
Using a simple can antenna from his car, George Sandford can burglarize homes from hundreds of yards away out in the open and without wearing a mask.
"You can open bank accounts. You get drivers licenses, you can get practically anything you want," Sandford said.
All by using relatively low tech equipment, just about anyone with knowledge can hack into computers using unsecured wireless internet or Wi-Fi signals of unsuspecting people.
"I'm using your nickel to get my internet access," Sandford said.
Or maybe stealing your identity just by walking down the block of a small town in Delaware County.
"Each time you hear it 'pings' that's another network it's acquired," Sandford said.
Jamie Smith watched Sanford's laptop locate dozens of unsecured personal wireless signals from a residential sidewalk, enabling him or anyone with knowledge to tap-in and frame someone else for illegal activity.
"As far as the world knows, you're the one that's downloading the pornography. You're the one that's downloading the illegal music. You're the one that's attacking another network and they're not going to find me," Sanford said.
Cherry Hill Police Lieutenant William Kushina recently investigated a group of teens stealing someone's Wi-Fi.
"The kids were able to get onto a school district web site and change some grades," Kushina said.
Those hackers tapped into an unsuspecting family's computer, much like Jamie Smith watched happen.
"And now you're going online as her," Jamie Smith asked.
"Yup," Sanford said.
Leading police to occasionally knock on the door of someone not complicit in a crime, just a home left vulnerable by an unsecured signal.
"I can build a body of information about you, your back accounts," Sandford said.
Jamie Smith spoke to one unsuspecting resident, "We were able to get onto your internet just a few seconds ago," and Rebecca Hansen of Swarthmore responded, "No."
Rebecca is a client of
Tech Guides Incorporated and George Sandford is far from a thief. He is actually Tech Guides' security expert. He sat down and showed Rebecca how to secure her Wi-Fi something everyone should do.
"Not securing your wireless networking is pretty much putting a sign on your house saying 'Hey, we're open,'" Sanford said.
Only about half of homes with Wi-Fi are locked.
If you don't your computer's connection could
be slowed down by others accidentally using your Wi-Fi.
VISIT: www.painlesstechnology.com/wireless to learn how to protect your Wi-Fi.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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