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Researchers Say Wi-Fi Virus Outbreak Possible

Posted by Zonk on from the batten-down-the-hatches dept.

alphadogg writes with a link to a NetworkWorld article about a troubling security scenario. Indiana University IT researchers are now saying that a WiFi attack intended to piggyback across unsecured access points could do serious damage in a city like Chicago or New York. By essentially brute-forcing the passwords on insecure routers, a worm-like firmware agent could be introduced to an estimated 20,000 networks in New York City alone. "Although the researchers did not develop any attack code that would be used to carry out this infection, they believe it would be possible to write code that guessed default passwords by first entering the default administrative passwords that shipped with the router, and then by trying a list of one million commonly used passwords, one after the other. They believe that 36% of passwords can be guessed using this technique."

6 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. They'll never get me! by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ha! They'll never guess my router admin password, which is '5l@$hd0t.!st.ps0t!'

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    My blog
    1. Re:They'll never get me! by somersault · · Score: 2, Funny

      I see your new USB 'big F5' button working out well since the one on your keyboard died?

      Back on topic I wonder what this new breed of virus will be called, if indeed it worked.. Weasles? WAIDs? Winfluenza? Actally Winfluenza could work on so many levels :)

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      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:They'll never get me! by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Funny

      WiThrax? WiVi? I hear Sony is actually pushing for Wiinfluenza for some reason.

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      My blog
  2. Simple Solution by dotpavan · · Score: 2, Funny
    They believe that 36 percent of passwords can be guessed using this technique.

    Solution: Use any of the 64 percent of the pwds

  3. Re:Wifi router on router action by noidentity · · Score: 2, Funny

    Skynet couldn't be far behind...

  4. It'll activate itself... by Shotgun · · Score: 3, Funny

    What happens with this virus spreads itself around, and then takes over a automated weapons manufacturing plant? I'll tell you what happens. It becomes SELF-AWARE. That's what happens. The next thing you know, we'll have governors showing up naked in deserted places and then beating up biker guys for their clothes. We have to stop this NOW!, before someone gets the bright idea of making a TV series about it.

    Aaaah!!! We're to late. Run for the hills!!

    --
    Aah, change is good. -- Rafiki
    Yeah, but it ain't easy. -- Simba