It seems like war-driving may become a thing of the past, legislation is starting to happen.

It’s a good start though, you have to target the manufacturers to educate their users, not target the users as they don’t care, sometimes ease of use has to be traded a bit with security.

California legislators have passed a law which will force makers of wireless internet equipment to include guidance on keeping data secure on wireless connections. The law now awaits signature by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

From 1 October 2007, manufacturers must place warning labels on all equipment capable of receiving Wi-Fi signals, according to the new state law. These can take the form of box stickers, special notification in setup software, notification during the router setup, or through automatic securing of the connection. One warning sticker must be positioned so that it must be removed by a consumer before the product can be used.

The warnings would have to contain information on how to secure files, folders, and connections. Wireless internet connections can be used by anyone with Wi-Fi capability within the range of the transmitter unless they are secured.

Makes sense really right? The current law in a way can be seen to cover unauthorised wireless use.

The legislation acknowledges disagreement in the US as to whether it is legal for someone to use another person’s unprotected Wi-Fi connection. “While Section 502 of the Penal Code prohibits the unauthorized access to computers, computer systems, and computer data, authorized use is determined by the specific circumstances of the access,” it states. “There are also federal laws, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act [...]that prohibit the intentional access to a computer without authorisation.”

In UK such warnings are not required but the position of using someone elses wi-fi connection is much clearer.

“The Communications Act includes an offence of dishonestly obtaining an electronic communications service ‘with intent to avoid payment of a charge applicable to the provision of that service’,” said Robertson. “We’ve already seen a conviction in the UK for using someone else’s Wi-Fi connection without authority.”

In July 2005, Gregory Straszkiewicz became the first person to be convicted under this provision. He was fined £500 at London’s Islewoth Crown Court. The Act provides for a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine.

So, is this the end of war driving?

Source: The Register

Apart from the fact Janus is almost like Anus this is a very cool project.

Seriously this is really geeky stuff, but super cool.

If you think seeing a dozen wireless networks makes your computer the ultimate scanning box, think again. A small security firm has made a portable computer that is capable of scanning 300 networks simultaneously. Dubbed the “Janus Project”, the computer also has a unique “Instant Off” switch that renders the captured data inaccessible.

The computer is the brain-child of Kyle Williams from the Janus Wireless Security Research Group in Portland, Oregon. We first spotted Williams sitting quietly and sipping Mountain Dew at the recently held Defcon security convention at the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. While it appeared as if Williams wasn’t ver busy, the bright yellow Janus computer in front of him was scanning and capturing data from hundreds of wireless networks in range.

Sounds cool eh!

In addition to scanning for wireless traffic, Williams says the computer can break most WEP keys very quickly by focusing all eight wireless cards on the access point. Using a combination of common utilities like airreplay, airdump and aircrack, Willams said, “When I use all 8 radios to focus in on a single access point, [the WEP key] lasts less than five minutes.” However, he added that some retail wireless access points will “just die” after being hit with so much traffic.

In addition to the capturing process, the hard drive and memory contents are continuously encrypted with AES 256-bit keys. There is also an “Instant Off” switch that, according to Williams, renders the captured data inaccessible to anyone but him.

Source: TG Daily