Security is common sense and everyone should practice good security protocols

Wardriving police: password protect your wireless, or face a fine

Internet users in Germany, whose wireless networks are left password unprotected, can be fined up to 100 euros, according to a recent ruling by Germany’s top criminal court.

The ruling is in response to a musician’s lawsuit against a user whose unprotected wireless network was used for downloading and sharing music over P2P.

Just how realistic is the ruling, from a security perspective? Is a weak password protected wireless network, any different than the one with no password security at all?

Three years later, Mumbai’s police started implementing the practice, in response to the abuse of insecure wireless networks by Indian militants:

Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police K Venktesan told Business Standard: “If the Wi-Fi connection in a particular place is not password protected or secured then the policemen accompanying the squad will have the authority to issue a notice to the owner of the connection directing him to secure it.”The police could issue a notice under section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to anyone found not securing their Wi-Fi connection and user may face criminal investigations.

Again in 2009, the Australian police also planned similar wardriving sessions:

The Queensland Police plans to conduct a ‘wardriving’ mission around select Queensland towns in an effort to educate its citizens to secure their wireless networks. When unsecured networks are found, the Queensland Police will pay a friendly visit to the household or small business, informing them of the risks they are exposing themselves to.

Although the problem with insecure wireless networks is often greatly underestimated, the big picture has to do with the fact that, when there are hundreds of thousands of password-unprotected wireless networks, this well known fact allows malicious attackers to efficiently propagate wireless malware. Related studies done on the subject, prove just how easy it is to execute such a malware campaign.

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