The second generation of Wi-Fi security systems has now been broken as badly as its notoriously insecure predecessor: Japanese researchers say they can crack WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), the successor to the old-school WEP, inside of a minute's time spent eavesdropping on a wireless network.
Details on the mechanics of the attack are set to be announced next month at a computer conference, but it's tentatively described as taking to "a new level" the previous method by which WPA had been roughly compromised, adapting previously theoretical holes in the WPA system and turning them into practical attack techniques.
The previous method of attacking WPA devices took up to 15 minutes to be successful, and didn't always work. The new method is said to work on far more devices and, obviously, much more quickly. However, as with the old attack, the new one only works on WPA devices that use the TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) algorithm, which is a setting in your router and device setup.
WPA devices that use the newer AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm, plus devices that use WPA2 -- the third generation of wireless security standards -- are still safe for now.
However, this does mean that it won't be long before this attack technique trickles out into software that malicious hackers can use to invade WPA networks. With access to your wireless network, a hacker can potentially eavesdrop on any traffic sent, access shared folders on computers attached to the network, and of course send and receive data (like illegal file sharing or even child pornography) which could then be blamed on you.
To protect yourself, upgrade the security settings on your devices to WPA2 if they all support the standard. Alternately, you can upgrade any WPA device from TKIP security to AES. Check in your router administration console and on your computer for and where how to do this.
AOKNetworking can help you with your security needs. Have you been hacked? Do you even know?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Top 10 Facts about Spyware and Malware
Top 10 Facts about Spyware and Malware
"There is no one software available that can remove all spyware or malware". Spyware seems to be the topic of the day. Here are some important facts that you need to know about spyware removal and how to protect yourself using AOKNetworking's Proactive Care!
Fact 1: Spyware and Malware can easily be installed on a system without the user's knowledge. In some cases one infection can propagate many more infections by downloading and installing malicious software stealthily in the background.
Fact 2: There is no software available that can remove all spyware or malware because of the techniques that are used to release new variants and new strains of infections into the wild
Fact 3: Spyware and malware infections can make pieces of your identity just a few mouse clicks away for criminals because of the ability of the software to gather and report personal information about you.
Fact 4: Spyware and Malware can slow down your internet connection speed dramatically
Fact 5: Spyware and Malware take away precious system resources in your computer, making boot times longer and over all performance sluggish.
Fact 6: A spy Audit survey in 2004 suggests that over 90% of computers are infected with some type of spyware!
Fact 7: Spyware and Malware can infect your system without your knowledge when you install certain software on your computer. Screen savers, online games, PC performance enhancers and even some spyware removal programs can "bundle" spyware and malware into their software.
Fact 8: Many computer users resort to "reformatting" their computer to rid their system of spyware, resulting in complete data loss and hours of valuable time lost to working on their computers.
Fact 9: Some variants of spyware and malware can install backdoors to allow hackers complete control over a system. This often results in someone from the outside using your computer to send out spam and viruses.
Fact 10: Businesses and individuals can spend thousands of dollars in a year on tech support, losing hours, days and even sometimes weeks and STILL have the same problems from the start!
Why not let AOKNetworking take the responsibility of managing the network for you to prevent this in the first place. Call us today and we can discuss how Proactive Care can help you!
"There is no one software available that can remove all spyware or malware". Spyware seems to be the topic of the day. Here are some important facts that you need to know about spyware removal and how to protect yourself using AOKNetworking's Proactive Care!
Fact 1: Spyware and Malware can easily be installed on a system without the user's knowledge. In some cases one infection can propagate many more infections by downloading and installing malicious software stealthily in the background.
Fact 2: There is no software available that can remove all spyware or malware because of the techniques that are used to release new variants and new strains of infections into the wild
Fact 3: Spyware and malware infections can make pieces of your identity just a few mouse clicks away for criminals because of the ability of the software to gather and report personal information about you.
Fact 4: Spyware and Malware can slow down your internet connection speed dramatically
Fact 5: Spyware and Malware take away precious system resources in your computer, making boot times longer and over all performance sluggish.
Fact 6: A spy Audit survey in 2004 suggests that over 90% of computers are infected with some type of spyware!
Fact 7: Spyware and Malware can infect your system without your knowledge when you install certain software on your computer. Screen savers, online games, PC performance enhancers and even some spyware removal programs can "bundle" spyware and malware into their software.
Fact 8: Many computer users resort to "reformatting" their computer to rid their system of spyware, resulting in complete data loss and hours of valuable time lost to working on their computers.
Fact 9: Some variants of spyware and malware can install backdoors to allow hackers complete control over a system. This often results in someone from the outside using your computer to send out spam and viruses.
Fact 10: Businesses and individuals can spend thousands of dollars in a year on tech support, losing hours, days and even sometimes weeks and STILL have the same problems from the start!
Why not let AOKNetworking take the responsibility of managing the network for you to prevent this in the first place. Call us today and we can discuss how Proactive Care can help you!
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