[ISN] FC: Great idea for 802.11 security tool: Emails the insecure

From: InfoSec News (isnat_private)
Date: Sun Dec 22 2002 - 23:30:43 PST

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    ---------- Forwarded message ----------
    Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 02:48:57 -0500
    From: Declan McCullagh <declanat_private>
    To: politechat_private
    Subject: FC: Great idea for 802.11 security tool: Emails the insecure
    
    [But would this be legal to run as Richard describes? --Declan]
    
    ---
    
    From: "Richard M. Smith" <rmsat_private>
    To: <declanat_private>
    Subject: A WiFi security tool I would like to see developed
    Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 21:33:48 -0500
    
    Hi,
    
    Here is a WiFi security tool that I would like to see developed and
    made available free of charge on the Internet.  The tool would be a
    packet sniffer that listens to unprotected email traffic on a WiFi
    network. When it sees an email message being sent in the clear, it
    sends out its own message to the "To", "From", and "CC" email
    addresses saying that the message could be easily read by the "bad
    guys".  The message who link to a Web page that describes the security
    problems with unprotected WiFi networks and then offers some possible
    solutions to the problems.
    
    This tool would be a great way to educate the public on the dangers of
    insecure WiFi hotspots.  It would make crystal clear to all
    participants of the email conversation how easy it is for
    eavesdroppers to listen in.
    
    From privacy reasons, the tool should not keep a record of any the
    TCP/IP traffic that it sniffs.
    
    I believe that the tool can be put together without too much trouble
    using existing public domain software libraries.
    
    Any takers?
    
    Thanks,
    Richard M. Smith
    http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com
       
    
    
    
    
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