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Hot Sales In China For Wi-Fi Key-Cracking Kits

Posted by timothy on from the unsecured-is-so-much-nicer dept.

alphadogg writes "Dodgy salesmen in China are making money from long-known weaknesses in a Wi-Fi encryption standard, by selling network key-cracking kits for the average user. Wi-Fi USB adapters bundled with a Linux operating system, key-breaking software, and a detailed instruction book are being sold online and at China's bustling electronics bazaars. The kits, pitched as a way for users to surf the Web for free, have drawn enough buyers and attention that one Chinese auction site, Taobao.com, had to ban their sale last year. With one of the 'network-scrounging cards,' or 'ceng wang ka' in Chinese, a user with little technical knowledge can easily steal passwords to get online via Wi-Fi networks owned by other people. The kits are also cheap. A merchant in a Beijing bazaar sold one for 165 yuan ($24), a price that included setup help from a man at the other end of the sprawling, multistory building."

10 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. fp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    First post using my neighbor's wifi!

    1. Re:fp by sqldr · · Score: 2, Funny

      Damn you! I hate it when some wang ka leeches my next connection.

      --
      I wrote my first program at the age of six, and I still can't work out how this website works.
  2. Are these available in the states? by Locke2005 · · Score: 3, Funny

    My neighbors have all started encrypting their wireless routers :-(.

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    1. Re:Are these available in the states? by blair1q · · Score: 4, Funny

      How are you going to steal my bytes when I don't pub my SSID?

    2. Re:Are these available in the states? by Locke2005 · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...making it easier to browse their pr0n collection. My neighbors are all devout Christians, meaning I'm not interested in their pr0n collections -- that shit is WAY too kinky for me!

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    3. Re:Are these available in the states? by Tiger4 · · Score: 4, Funny

      See that's where I fool 'em. I don't encrypt my traffic. They'll search all day and never find the key!

      --
      Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, and let us slay him... and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
    4. Re:Are these available in the states? by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 2, Funny

      I bet you could write a custom driver that simply XORs all wireless traffic,

      Even better, a custom driver that XOR's the traffic twice for double the protection.

    5. Re:Are these available in the states? by socceroos · · Score: 5, Funny

      Commentator 1: And in the blue corner we have seasoned slashdotter and daisy-cutter h4rr4r. His opponent today is the unheard-of Rijnzael...
      Commentator 2: Yeah, Bob - rumour has it that this Rijnzael dude is a cryptographer wannabe...
      Commentator 1: Indeed! Round one is about to begin...
      DING!
      Commentator 1: We're off! Both contestants start jostling.
      KABAM!!!
      Commentator 1: Wow! h4rr4r has just run to the side of the ring and flattened a member of the crowd who started shouting out about something to do with hidden SSIDs. That was unexpected!!
      THUD!!
      Commentator 1: Ouch! And with h4rr4r's back turned, Rijnzael has snuck in from behind and layed a stiff elbow into the back of h4rr4r's head! He's reeling off something about the legitimacy of hidden SSIDs.
      Commentator 2: It's all happening here, Bob. h4rr4r looks stunned... Rijnzael has bounced back to the middle of the ring - he almost looks surprised that he was able to land that blow. h4rr4r is turning around to face him...
      BIFF!!! BOP!!!
      Commentator 1: Thats gotta hurt! h4rr4r lays a couple of punches on Rijnzael!
      Commentator 2: h4rr4r really likes that iwlist+luser combo doesn't he! Rijnzael stumbles backward. He's composing himself now...
      DING DING DING!!
      Commentator 1: Oooooh! And with that the round ends! Rijnzael looks upset, he was getting all fired up for his next attack! Look at the anger in that bloke's eyes will ya!
      Commentator 2: Agreed. Rijnzael is itching to get back out there! h4rr4r is looking around the crowd... Ok, we're about to start round 2.
      DING!
      Commentator 1: And we're back into it. Rijnzael is bouncing like a kangaroo, he's pumped! Oh! He's moving in...
      BAP!! PUNT!! THUD!!
      Commentator 1: WOOOOOWW! What a combo! Rijnzael has hit h4rr4r squarely on the nose here! h4rr4r stumbles backwards and hits the ropes, arms splayed!
      POW!!! KABIFF!!!
      Commentator 2: Oh wow! "Fundamental Misunderstanding", "Belligerence", "Verifiable Incorrectness" - Rijnzael is throwing everything and the kitchen sink at h4rr4r!
      KABLOOIE!
      Commentator 1: An explosive hit! Rijnzael just landed a "slow adoption of Linux" blow on h4rr4r!
      Commentator 2: My goodness, Bob! You don't do that to a seasoned slashdotter! h4rr4r has gritted his teeth now, boy he looks in pain! What a grimace!
      *CROWD ROARING*
      Commentator 2: Here we go! h4rr4r's senior, geekoid, has just jumped into the ring!! Talk about uneven now!
      Commentator 1: Whats going on?! Looks like he got annoyed at the Linux reference! This is starting to look like a WWE match now!
      BOP! POW! BAP! BIFF!!
      **CARRIER LOST

      I'd better get back to RL and start working.
      'twas fun boys.

  3. They should totally market it as... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...Kuang Grade Mark Eleven

  4. Re:I knew this would happen, so I left it Open. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    WAP? like in Wireless Application Protocol?

    Dude. you're sharing your old cellphone's connection? what a sicko.