Attention, Wi-Fi users: The Department of Homeland Security sees wireless networking technology as a terrorist threat.

December 6, 2002 5:19 PM

Attention, Wi-Fi users: The Department of Homeland Security sees wireless networking technology as a terrorist threat. That was the message from experts who participated in working groups under federal cybersecurity czar Richard Clarke and shared what they learned at this week's 802.11 Planet conference. Wi-Fi manufacturers, as well as home and office users, face a clear choice, they said: Secure yourselves or be regulated. Is this reasonable? Is this really a threat to security? (via boingboing )
posted by Espoo2 (10 comments total)

"We know that (an attack) could bring down the network of this country very quickly. Once you're on the network, it doesn't matter where you got in," said Daniel Devasirvatham, who headed the Homeland Security task force for the Wireless Communications Association International trade association.

Is he suggesting that anyone with internet access has the ability to "bring down the network of this country very quickly"? 'Cause if he is, he's a moron. It seems like they don't realize that a common network is not the same as common access.
posted by mr_roboto at 5:52 PM on December 6, 2002

I think that the real idea is that if it's difficult and expensive to spy on people, you force them to pay to help you spy, or make them stop using communications techniques that are not easy to tap. Voyeurism must be satisfied!
posted by kablam at 6:07 PM on December 6, 2002

Sounds like scare tactics and bureaucratic make-work to me. Obviously wireless networks need to be secured, but they're trying to turn it into something scary that they can be seen to be handling, by using the magic T word.
posted by RylandDotNet at 7:23 PM on December 6, 2002

Because without wi-fi, terrorists will be forced to use their 1000 hours free at AOL or possibly even to go down to any public library in the country.
posted by Nothing at 9:18 PM on December 6, 2002

First, let's back up. There's a growing realization that one of the major security risks on the net is the always-on home computer. They can be 24/7 live fountains of viruses and worms. They can also be hijacked and used for DDOS attacks in coordination with thousands of others, often completely invisibly to the dullard user.

Part of the strategy draft indicates that there should be a major push toward getting firewalls onto those computers. What this means, probably, is getting Microsoft and others to build in firewall technology, and getting Wi-Fi and cable modem manufacturers to build in more security and more-easily-used security. (Hopefully this means an opportunity for Zone Labs, who make one of the better single-user firewalls.)

What's been happening is that administrative controls that used to be highly centralized are going retail, and the average user isn't competent enough to keep up with the needed software patches let alone configuration esoterica. The draft guidelines are not onerous -- there's no federal mandate for sniffer or wiretap software, as intimated above. They're just talking about making users choose good passwords, making it easier for them to keep up to date with virus and security patches, and getting them (encouragement only, at this point) to use a firewall.

It's crazy, because this is such an emergent problem -- but I've just gone quite literally broke trying to create a business practice in this area. I have a big head-sized crater in my wall now.
posted by dhartung at 11:23 PM on December 6, 2002

Government Seeks To Ban Radio As Security Threat
posted by quonsar at 10:13 AM on December 7, 2002

so the internet gets knocked down for a day or two, and we are all forced to watch TV. Whoopty Do.
posted by howa2396 at 9:15 PM on December 7, 2002

They can also be hijacked and used for DDOS attacks in coordination with thousands of others, often completely invisibly to the dullard user.

well oh shit, that would mean that our governments EXTREMELY USEFUL websites would be knocked down for MAYBE A DAY. we are all totally fucked and the terrorists totally have us by our tits.
maybe we can save our POOR DEFENCELESS INTERNET if my mother gets a firewall for her 10 year old pc running over a dial-up.
posted by fuq at 11:45 PM on December 7, 2002

I guess that if beer was declared a typical terrorist weapon, all woman would be required by law to wear burka.
posted by elpapacito at 12:44 PM on December 8, 2002

I wonder if there are ISPs out there who see free wireless Internet access as a threat to their bottom line, and so are pushing for greater security of wireless access as an "anti-terrorism" measure, when in reality it would be a "protect our business" measure.
posted by spacewaitress at 3:43 PM on December 8, 2002