Last sunday on ST:
Wi-fi access for
'Free'
Beware, neighbours can access your broadband service if you do not
have a password to protect your wireless network.
By Loh Wei Loong
WHEN stock market trader M.C. Loo moved house last October, he did
not count on a week-long delay in getting his broadband Internet
access.
So he tried accessing his neighbour's network to gain entry to the
Internet.
Using a laptop and a wireless network card, he did a simple search
of the vicinity.
'To my surprise, a few connections were unsecured.
'I just logged in, checked my e-mail and left. There was no harm
done,' said Mr Loo, 30, who lives in Ang Mo Kio.
This method of borrowing - or 'stealing' - Internet access is
growing, given the availability of cheap wireless equipment from
hardware vendors.
Many consumers who set up a wireless network within their home do
not take precautions to secure it.
A wireless or Wi-Fi network usually enables one broadband
connection to be shared among several computers and printers at
home, via a wireless router, removing the hassle of having cables
cutting across rooms.
But since a Wi-Fi signal can go through walls, neighbours upstairs,
downstairs or next door can also get the signal.
All it takes for someone to piggyback the signal is another
wireless card.
And unless the person starts downloading large music or movie
files, which can cause a noticeable slowdown in Internet speed, it
is not easy to detect the intrusion.
Such vulnerability cuts across all broadband providers as security
is usually dependent upon third-party wireless equipment
used.
Mr Thomas Ee, senior vice-president of IP services at StarHub,
says: 'When a user does not apply any security features to protect
his wireless home network, it is like leaving the door of his house
open.'
But while this makes the user vulnerable, it does not give
neighbours the access right to the network, he adds.
'We believe that using someone else's broadband connection belongs
in the general category of theft. Further, we also believe this is
an offence under the Computer Misuse Act.'
A way to deter intruders is to enable security settings in the
wireless equipment. Common brands like Netgear and Linksys provide
easy-to-use password and security options.
Sometimes, it can be as simple as changing the password from the
default settings such as 'admin' or 'passwords'.
'Hackers know these defaults and will try them to access your
wireless device and change your network settings,' says a spokesman
for Linksys.
'To thwart any unauthorised changes, customise the device's
password so it will be hard to guess.'
Some Internet users do not see piggybacking as a theft and say
Wi-Fi signals, like radio and television signals, are being beamed
into their homes.
'If someone doesn't want to share his wireless access, he should
take steps in securing it,' says Mr Loo.
But those who intentionally let neighbours access their network and
get them to chip in to pay for broadband service costs should also
be aware of the risks involved.
In the case of StarHub, its terms and conditions state that a
subscriber's connection is for a specific residential unit
only.
And subscribers should be aware that they are responsible for
whatever the connection is used for, says Mr Ee.
'They should be very mindful that anyone using their wireless
network may engage in some form of cyber crimes such as illegal
uploading or downloading of materials, and hence, breach
intellectual property rights,' he says.
'This may subject the subscriber to any subsequent investigation by
the relevant authorities.'
Meanwhile, Internet users may get to surf for free for a year on an
islandwide network.
The network, which is partly government funded, will start in some
areas by August and is expected to be available islandwide by June
next year.
[email protected]
All wired but unsecured
TO FIND out how conscious Singaporeans are of wireless security,
The Sunday Times tried to tap into Wi-Fi networks at an HDB block
in the north and a condominium in the east.
Both experiments were carried out in the evenings, when the
majority of residents would be home. In both cases, it took less
than 10 minutes to piggyback a Wi-Fi signal.
All that was used was a laptop and a wireless card set to connect
automatically to unsecured broadband connections.
Of the 15 connections found within the span of an hour in the east,
six were unsecured.
However, maintaining the connection was dependent on the network
owner remaining online. Once the person had logged off, this
reporter had to spend time searching for a new source.
So, unless you live in an area where someone leaves his connection
on 24/7, borrowing access in the afternoon or late at night, when
most users would not be online, may not be as easy.
Loh Wei Loong
© 2005 Singapore Press Holdings
