Enlisting the help of an ethical hacker’, Life Assistance company, CPP is working to raise awareness of the threat from Wi-jacking’. Many of us use wifi networks to access the internet everyday, but are we doing all we can to make sure our personal information is safe when browsing or transacting online? CPP’s experiment covered six cities in the UK to gauge just how many insecure networks are out there.

Shown as a series of videos the Wi-jacking story begins with Jason Hart, senior vice president of CRYPTOCard, conducting an experiment that reveals the number of unprotected wifi networks open to fraud in central London. In research conducted by CPP to support the experiment in October, it was also revealed that nearly a quarter of private wireless networks have no password attached, making them immediately accessible to criminals.

To test the vulnerability of personal information further the second part of the story focuses on how identity fraud can occur should private details be compromised due to Wi-jacking. Once a wifi network has been Wi-jacked, the risk of the identity theft increases, explains CPP’s Identity Fraud expert, Michael Lynch.

In the third and final video, Have you been wi-jacked? ‘, Jason Hart simulates a malicious attack via a wifi network to show just how easily identity fraud can be committed with just a few pieces of personal information. The ethical hacker is given permission to gain access to a personal email account and describes just how quickly fraudulent activity could take place.

This series demonstrates just how risky accessing public and unprotected home wifi networks could be. Wi-jacking is just one in a very long list of how your identity could be stolen and result in identity fraud. If we’re all aware of the risks posed by this and other forms of ID fraud, we can begin to stamp out criminal activity.

For more information about Wi-jacking, take a look at CPP’s blog: http://blog.cpp.co.uk/.

Free Internet access and mobile telephony is on the way. It’s all thanks to old-fashioned analogue TV, or, more precisely, the amount of the electromagnetic spectrum released by the switch from analogue to digital TV. What was once a geeky pipe dream is now a likelihood. So what exactly is it?

With the replacement of analogue TV by digital, much more has changed than mere picture and sound quality, or the ability to deliver 3D pictures. Even though there are many more digital channels than there ever were analogue ones, they need only about half the amount of the spectrum previously used by analogue TV. The reason digital bands need much less spaceis because channels don’t bleedlike analogue ones. Due to the possibility of interference between one analogue channel and another, the amount of bandwidth allocated to each had to be wider than was strictly necessary. It’s a bit like the hard shoulder on each side of a highway. Vehicles don’t need it most of the time, but it’s there just in case. In analogue TV terminology, the equivalent of the hard shoulder is called the guard band. The total amount of guard band freed-up by the switchover is referred to as white space. As much as 70% of the spectrum used by analogue TV was made up of white space. Digital TV doesn’t have any significant bleed problem, so it doesn’t need this extra bandwidth.

The amount of spectrum released is enormous. Not surprisingly, the TV operators wanted to hold onto it for their own future uses. Recently, however, in the US the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided that most of the white space would be made freely available to everyone. Any operator could apply to use it without having to pay a huge sum for a license. The FCC holds no sway over the rest of the world, but since much technological innovation is kick-started in the US, the decision will profoundly impact most of the developed world.

It’s still uncertain what all the freed-up spectrum will be used for. One proposal gaining traction is what’s termed Super WiFi. Unlike the area of the spectrum used by current WiFi, which limits coverage to a few hundred meters, signals using some of the freed white space frequencies can travel kilometers. In theory, a single mast could provide coverage to an entire town or city suburb. This has huge implications not just for current WiFi, but more significantly, for mobile telephony. If an entire town is effectively a free high-speed wireless hotspot, then with a suitable phone, anyone in town can make free calls through services like Skype and Google talk. No one within the hotspot would want or need a traditional cell phone. Fixed line phones would be amusing curiosities.

When this happens, it will be game-changing. It’s easy to see why the mobile phone networks among others are not happy. They spent billions for their licenses and in the not too distant future, many of their customers may start to disappear. Their concern is understandable. It’s a bit like owning a chain of bookshops, then, one day, a free library opens beside each one of them. Maybe it’s not fair, but there’s a valid argument that says mobile phone companies have over-charged users for years and have easily recouped their investments. One thing is sure: few users will shed tears for them.

Some experts predict that within five years WiFi, as we now know it, will be replaced by Super WiFi. Some even predict that the only mobile telephone operators around will be those offering versions of VOIP telephony. Google’s development of the Android system seems inspired. It’s not inconceivable that in a few years, Google could be one of the major new global mobile phone operators.

Many technological giants have flung their hats into this ring. Microsoft, Google, Dell, HP, Intel, Philips and others have all set up what’s called The White Space Coalition. Even though they compete in many areas, they all share the ambition that the white space should be harnessed to deliver high-speed broadband Internet access.

Of course, politics will intervene. Governments’ compulsion to interfere and control will lead to national interestobstacles. Nevertheless, the FCC’s decision in the US has global significance. It means that the tide has turned. There will be great opportunities for clever entrepreneurs. The best thing they can do is find those opportunities and lead the revolution. No doubt, the smart ones are already doing just that.

[Windows, Mobile and Mac] Since I have a netbook and occasionally take it on the road, I decided to try out WeFi. The WeFi application and web service promises to help you locate wifi hotspots and connect you to thousands of other WeFi users. Here’s what they say about the service:

WeFi is dedicated to helping you find, connect, and enjoy Wi-Fi anywhere around the world. We provide the tools that allow our community to map the global Wi-Fi network. Our dedicated community has already discovered over 60,000,000 access points around the world. Join us today and help us map the next million!

I downloaded the 8mb installation file and started the install process. I found that there are a few places that you might want take a closer look at during the install.

The first installation options default to installing a toolbar and new default search in your web browser. When I see options like these, I nearly always opt out. I hate toolbars and I’m happy with my search providers.

Just when I thought I was done with the junk programs they wanted me to install, one more option popped in. I can’t tell you how much I dislike added shopping applications like the Price Gong offer they served up.

After getting through the options above, the software starts installing and you’ll see a cute animation with the little WeFi creature running past store fronts. It’s a little too cute. At that point, I was wondering if this was a serious company delivering a real product.

One final setting popped up after the little running logo. I decided that I definitely did not want to allow WeFi to automatically connect me to networks. I like to look them over before I allow my netbook to connect to strange new hotspots.

The final step was to actually create an account with WeFi. They step you through the sign-up and only require an email address in addition to letting you choose your username and password. Once that’s out of the way, the main WeFi interface finally launches.

After playing with it for awhile, I decided that I liked the WeFi interface because it was very similar to most instant messenger clients. Below is a video showing you a little bit about how it works.

Link to video at Youtube

Download WeFi

http://www.wefi.com/

Techie Buzz Verdict:

I didn’t like the offers for the toolbar, the change to default search and the shopping assistant. However, I did like the fact that WeFi does offer an easy way to discover new hotspots and get in touch with other WeFi users. I have mixed feelings about it at this time, but I won’t tell anyone to stay away from WeFi.

Techie Buzz Rating: 3/5 (Good)

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a new free application, called Connectify. It makes use of an unfinished feature in Windows 7 which allows you to create a personal wifi hotspot that can be shared with others.

* Please note that this application only works in Windows 7. You will also have to register at the Connectify website with a name and email address.

New and improved!

Recently, Connectify has been updated with a few minor features to bring it up to Version 1.0. The new and improved features include improved notification tray icons, support for more wireless cards, improved memory management, recovery from sleep/hibernate, support for multiple Windows accounts and more.

Why do I need Connectify?

I can think of at least two cases where Connectify would be nice.

If you don’t have a wireless router in your home, you won’t need one with Connectify. Any PC with a wireless card, that’s hooked up to the internet, can become a local wifi hotspot. Now you can broadcast the internet to your Xbox or wifi enabled phone or other devices.

If you happen to be at an airport or an internet cafe, you can share your connection and possibly help someone avoid being charged with a connection fee. Just don’t tell anyone that I said you can do this. I don’t know if it’s legal in all cases.

How to use Connectify

● Download the Connectify client
● Install it
● Look for the Connectify icon in the system tray

● Click on the icon once to open it

● Set the wifi name
● Set a password of 8 characters or more
● Select either Local or Wireless in the pull down (your current internet connection)
● Select either Access Point or Ad Hoc in the pull down (the new hotspot)
● Click the “Start Hotspot” button

As you can see, I’ve created a wifi hotspot named “skynet“.

Once it’s live, anyone with your password can connect to your hotspot. Connectify even identifies PCs and devices that are connected to it. You can see them in the window labeled “Connected Clients”. If you double click on a connected client, you can change the little icon next to it to make it easier to identify at a glance.

Techie-Buzz Verdict:

If you would like to share your internet connection wirelessly in your home or on the road, you could not ask for an easier way to do it. I have no problems giving this app a good recommendation.

Techie-Buzz Rating: 4/5 (Excellent)

McDonald’s will soon start offering free Wi-Fi for customers in collaboration with AT&T starting mid-January. Currently, McDonald charges customers $2.95 to access Wi-Fi for two hours. Free Wi-Fi in McDonald’s will be launched in 11000 locations across US.

Providing free Wi-Fi will definitely get more customers into McDonald’s stores and more likely than not increase their revenue, specially the new line of coffee introduced by them.

Do you use Wi-Fi in McDonald’s or Starbucks?

Image Credit: adsoftheworld.com

[via TechMeme]

Whenever people travel on a plane, they get a perfect excuse to skip work, albeit for only sometime. However, Google thinks otherwise. Google has tied up with Virgin Atlantic, to offer free WiFi on flights across North America, during the holiday season.

The free WiFi will be available on all Virgin Atlantic flights between November 10, 2009 and January 15, 2010, when you are travelling within North America. Free WiFi will be available for Virgin Atlantic flights to the following destinations:

• San Francisco, CA (SFO)
• Boston, MA (BOS)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• New York, NY (JFK)
• Orange County, CA (SNA)
• San Diego, CA (SAN)
• Seattle, WA (SEA)
• Washington Dulles (IAD)

Free WiFi on planes is not a new concept, as several other carriers offer paid WiFi on short and long distance flights. Will you fly Virgin Atlantic, just to make use of the free WiFi this holiday season?

Free Holiday WiFi [via Official Google Blog]

Travelling and looking to find a free WiFi connection? Wifi.com is the solution you are looking for, it will allow you to search and find Free WiFi hotspots around your location, allowing you access to the internet, without having to pay hefty amounts to commercial WiFi providers.

Wifi.com works similarly to previously mentioned Free Wifi Hotspot finder. It searches the surrounding areas and displays the best available options for accessing WiFi connections free of cost.

At wifi.com, we feel connecting to wifi hotspots should be easy, secure, and most of all free. Wifi.com is building a fast-growing network of free consumer and retail wifi hotspots around the globe. Join our community of wireless Internet users who want to make easy, secure and free wifi a reality.

You can quickly search a given location to find free WiFi hotspots in a particular city or area, Wifi.com will provide you with results on a map, which you can print and add it to your travel itinerary.

Wifi.com also providers users with a desktop client you can use to discover WiFi connections near you. The wifi.com connection manager lets you easily connect to the optimal wifi hotspot.

In addition to this, you can also share your Wifi connection with other users, by providing them with access to your secure Wifi network, you can invite your friends to join your wifi network and vice versa, you can easily decide who you want to share your network with, deleting those you do not want to share your wifi connection with.

Wifi.com