Freedom Lawyers of America

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Report finds con artists, identity thieves can easily access your PC
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37062

One of the hottest new computer-related technologies is the wireless
router, but the popular Internet connection also opens the door to thieves,
according to a consumer report.

High-tech criminals, using just a pocket PC and a $20 antenna, can pick up
someone else's Internet connection from up to 10 miles away, says KIRO-TV
in Seattle.

A wireless router beams an Internet connection through the air to other
computers without the use of wires. It allows, for example, a laptop to
connect from anywhere in a home or business.

Not only does it open a huge door for con artists and identity thieves, but
it allows even perverts to walk right through, the KIRO report said.

"Imagine the case of pornography or child pornography and all of a sudden
the authorities are knocking on your door and taking you away and you don't
know what they're talking about - because someone downloaded child
pornography via your connection," Brett Hiley, a computer security
consultant, told KIRO.

Hiley demonstrated the hundreds of connections he could get while sitting
in an SUV in Seattle's east suburbs.

"It looks like we're sitting here in an anonymous location, and we have
full Internet access," he said.

Hiley warned that not only can hackers steal your connection, they can
watch everything you do and even steal your personal information through
free programs available via the Internet.

"I have personally found financial institutions that were transmitting
credit information . Social Security numbers, names, numbers, addresses,
phone numbers, your credit report," he said.

Secret Service agent Wallace Shields confirmed that to KIRO.

"You can basically sit in a parking lot, and if you know what frequency to
go in on when the stores download by satellite, you get tons of credit card
information," Shields said.

Hacking tools exist, KIRO said, that decode passwords, even on some sites
that claim to be secure.

Shields said it's important to use the encryption technology that comes
with most routers, but KIRO's investigation found the security features are
not user friendly and apparently most people have not turned them on.

Out of nearly 100 wireless connections KIRO accessed from a park during its
investigation, fewer than half were encrypted.

AND SEE:
Microsoft: Major Windows security flaws
Could let hackers break into computers to steal files, delete data,
eavesdrop
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/02/10/financial1426EST0167.DTL&type=tech