Evil Twins (spoofed wireless hotspots)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4190607.stm

I'm beginning to wonder when people are going to figure out that doing anything that involves credit cards or other sensitive data wirelessly is just a bad idea.

Once it's in the air it's available to anyone who knows how to intercept it. Just because they can't connect to a source doesn't mean they can't monitor every wireless transmission around it.

as long as people make sure thier wep is strong enough it should be ok. Its definatly not as secure as conventional internet, but even that can be sniffed.

One of my friends used to sit in McDonalds in london, plug the wireless card in and use someones broadband, we think it was one of the many business' around that area. His keyring used to beep and flash when he was near enough to a 802.11 broadcast.

Of course, now you dont even have to be near it with one of These

I've got a couple of friends in NC who's hobby is driving around in a car with a homemade antenna mapping out wireless networks. It was amazing how man were completely insecure.

interesting. this increases my faith in humanity ::cough::

i'm always nervous about logging into "secure" areas like my university student account because of reasons like this. perhaps i need to reconsider doing certain things on the go. but a homemade antenna?? i didn't think it could be THAT simple~

a pringles can and 6 foot of copper wire is all you need.