TheCircuitSide.com

With the advent of wireless technology and improving hacking techniques, Wi-Fi eavesdropping is a growing Web Security concern. Now that Wi-Fi Hot Spots are widely scattered with some cities even providing free Hot Spot zones. Breaking into Wi-Fi connected devices has proven to be very easy. May it be your laptop, Cell Phone or PDA, they are all equally vulnerable to hacking via Wi-Fi connectivity.

Wi-Fi, also known as Wireless Fidelity, is a brand of wireless technology that improves the connections between wireless local area networks. This technology enables various devices such as PC games, MP3 Players, cell phone or PDA’s to gain internet connection at a specified distance without the wires. An area that is covered by Wi-Fi Connectivity is called a “Hot Spot.” Hot Spots can cover areas from a single room to as big as a square kilometer.

Like most other technologies Wi-Fi has its’ share of advantages and disadvantages. On a positive note: Wi-Fi decreases the cost of network deployment because it is a wireless technology. Disadvantages to Wi-Fi include: inconsistency of Spectrum assignments, power consumption is high when using Wi-Fi, Wired Equipment Privacy (WEP) are easily broken even when configured properly, and Wi-Fi networks have a limited range.

Criminal Hacking has been a top issue of Web Security for some time. Hackers can gain access to private information and can even effectively bring a system down. Naturally, protection Software has been set up to ward against Criminal Hacking. Protection Software has been tested and proven to work on wired connections, but the wireless connections seems to be much easier to break.

It was only recently in a Black Hat convention that a demonstration was given showing the ease of hacking into a computer with a Wi-Fi connection. It showed the use of a program to identify the cookies being sent to another computer within the same Wi-Fi vicinity. Now that the hacker had the cookie, he was able to get password free access to email accounts of the other computer. The hacker was able to send emails to the Hacked account and it will appear as an email from the original sender. What’s worse is that the hacker can still log on to your computer several days after the initial attack.

Most people take Wi-Fi hacking lightly because it has not yet happened to them. If you are in a Wi-Fi Hot Spot and you are not being hacked,the only reason is that no one is bothering to. What if somebody does take interest? What then? Hackers are now taking notice of the ease of Wi-Fi hacking, there are even Games that simulate hacking into a system using Wi-Fi Connectivity.

Wi-Fi eavesdropping has long been a security issue. Computers are not the only ones at risk. All devices that use Wi-Fi and other wireless connection are vulnerable to this easy hacking. The best way to protect yourself against hackers is to be selective when using Wi-Fi connections in a public place. It is best to deal with highly private information only when you are able to use a more secure connection. GP