Windows 7 Can Create Rogue Wi-Fi Access Point

alphadogg writes "Windows 7 contains a 'SoftAP' feature, also called 'virtual Wi-Fi,' that allows a PC to function simultaneously as a Wi-Fi client and as an access point to which other Wi-Fi-capable devices can connect. The capability is handy when users want to share music and play interactive games. But it also can allow on-site visitors and parking-lot hackers to piggyback onto the user's laptop and 'ghost ride' into a corporate network unnoticed." While this means a bit more policing for networks meant to be locked down, it sounds like a good thing overall. Linux users, meanwhile, have had kernel support (since 2.6.26) for 802.11s mesh networking, as well as Host AP support for certain chipsets.

Comments

Re:No biased reporting here on /. Just the facts.

[gad_zuki!]

Agreed, this is beyond stupid. You could do the same with XP if you like, but now its a little easier. I used to share a cellular card this way years ago. The "policing" and "lockdown" of "rogue" access points is like one click in group policy or a value in a reg key.

Slashdot has become the fox news of tech.

Re:Easy Solution

[Niobe]

You are misunderstanding the problem. The PC running this feature becomes a router bridging their local and probably unauthenticated network with whatever secure network they are already connected to. Add network connection sharing to the mix and you have a security hole regardless of how 'locked down' the original network is. How big a problem this is will depend on the implementation and I haven't seen it.