Small Businesses & Wi-Fi Security

Paul Mah explains why unsecured and poorly secured small business Wi-Fi networks are easy pickings for cyber criminals, and how you can protect your network.

"Seattle police are currently investigating a group of criminals whose modus operandi was to cruise around in a vehicle to map out surrounding wireless networks for a subsequent break-in. Also known as "wardriving," hackers essentially made use of laptops armed with long-range antennas to search for unsecured or poorly-protected wireless networks that they could exploit. Once network access was obtained, the hackers could potentially siphon off credit card account information, redirect funds via the use of fake payrolls or even access identity information for the purpose of fraud.

The vehicle, a black Mercedes with heavily tinted windows was impounded last year after its owner tried to use stolen gift cards at a local wine bar. When the police searched the car, they found a passenger-seat laptop mount designed to allow the driver to operate the computer, while a laptop that draws its power from the car was also found together with a range-boosting antenna. The group was believed to have been doing this for five years."