Queensland Police to Look For Unsecured WiFi Spots 255
OzPeter writes "As a part of National Consumer Fraud week, the Queensland Police are going war driving in order to identify insecure WiFi setups. From the press release: 'The War Driving Project involves police conducting proactive patrols of residential and commercial areas to identify unprotected connections. Police will follow this up with a letterbox drop in the targeted area with information on how to effectively secure your connection.' While some people may like having an open WiFi AP its interesting to see that the Police also feel that 'Having WEP encryption is like using a closed screen door as your sole means of security at home. The WPA or WPA2 security encryption is certainly what we would recommend as it offers a high degree of protection.'"
Accountability (Score:5, Insightful)
Plus, it's easier for them to book you for thought crimes they catch you committing via their IP taps. They'll have none of that "but my wifi is open -- it could have been anyone" defense. That won't work for you, sir, you'll be held accountable for whatever flows through your pipes!
Re:It's Basic Infrastructure (Score:3, Insightful)
I'd be more worried about an identity thief stealing data than a passerby leeching bandwidth. Easier to just wall it off. FWIW, we just post the password on the fridge, so our actual guests can use it if they want.
Haven't WPA/WPA2 been broken yet? (Score:0, Insightful)
I thought "WiFi encryption protocols are easily breakable" was the fifth law of thermodynamics or something.
Re:How times have changed (Score:4, Insightful)
Being able to flash a badge lets you get away with murder...why would wardriving be on the do-not-do list?
Re:It's Basic Infrastructure (Score:2, Insightful)
Unfortunately the ISP cartel in Australia charge like wounded bulls and most (all?) plans are capped, so if your neighbour decides they like your connection you can burn your plan with ease.
Guests in my home are also welcome to use my WiFi - let me type the password in for you.....In the same way I give them the spare key and travel pass.
Re:It's Basic Infrastructure (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:what's next (Score:3, Insightful)
That law is ridiculous, i've had several locked cars broken into and the damage due to breaking in has always cost more than anything stolen. Generally the only thing of value is a couple of euro and the radio which although it has bluetooth, mp3 cd cost 56 euro a new door or window costs a lot more to fix than replacing the radio.
The engine immobiliser still works you need a proper coded key for the ignition to work, you might still steal the car but the door locks are not going to be much of a barrier honestly.
Sure sometimes i might be carrying something of value when it makes the cost of repairing the car less than the cost of the stolen goods but then i would lock it.
however in practical terms the cost of a break in is my insurance excess (500 euro) + the loss of noclaims discount which is around 75% a loss of (750 euro).
A friend of mine had his lorry fuel tank syphoned in a locked patrolled yard no less, the police said he should have a locking cap on the tank. well that is all well and good until you realise the tank would still have been broke into and the tank damaged in the process and his lorry would have been off the road making him unable to meet his contracts. While annoying and expensive to lose fuel that way the alternative could cost him a lot more maybe even his business.
Security is a trade off and it makes no sense to ensure the cost of flimsy security measures costs more than the things stolen in the first place.
Re:It's Basic Infrastructure (Score:4, Insightful)
By everyone locking down their wifi you provide credibility to the claim that an IP equals a perpetrator.
If I were to say, brute force your WPA2 using my graphics card, you would have a harder time making your case than if your wifi was open and it could have been anyone.
I care more about protecting the innocent than persecuting criminals I guess.
Re:It's Basic Infrastructure (Score:4, Insightful)
I doubt this i see them just making it easier to make calls off wifi and claiming its a cool new feature.
Re:It's Basic Infrastructure (Score:4, Insightful)
Indeed. People seem to think that leaving it open will be sufficient defense -- either glossing over or ignoring the fact that their equipment will be seized under warrant well before the authorities start asking questions that might reveal this defense. Ultimately the lack of offending content will be what saves them - not the fact that their APs are open.
Re:How times have changed (Score:3, Insightful)
I wonder why you got downmodded? It's a true statement. In fact, sometimes you don't even need a badge, just be on the neighborhood watch. [go.com]