[ISN] Two reasons to worry about city’s WiFi connections

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Two-reasons-to-worry-about-city-s-WiFi-connections/371583

Express News Service
Oct 10, 2008

Pune, October 9 First, hacking is easy, detection difficult

The recent hacking of Wi-Fi connections by terrorists has underscored 
the difficulty in securing such networks. “Unlike bomb blasts carried 
out by terrorists, hacking is a hidden and difficult-to-trace activity. 
Tampering into others’ computer systems does not leave any tangible 
trace,” said Sudam Choure, chief coordinator of Pune police’s cyber 
committee.

“There is nothing like ‘ethical hacking’. People with a criminal intent 
can easily get trained in ‘ethical hacking’ and use their knowledge for 
criminal activities,” Choure said.

Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy, the IT executive arrested from the city, has 
been described as the head of an Indian Mujahideen module that hacked 
Wi-Fi networks to send Terror mails before and after serial blasts. He 
had taken up a course in ethical hacking.

Deputy Commissioner of police (cyber crime) Rajendra Dahale agreed. “Use 
of Wi-Fi technology for crime is increasing, as it is difficult to trace 
the hackers.”

The police have started encouraging IT firms to secure their Wi-Fi 
networks. Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh said, “We have urged them 
to be alert and take measures to secure their Wi-Fi networks.”

Choure suggested that audits of systems security be carried out at 
regular intervals. “The intelligence of hackers can never be 
underestimated. Security systems should go through a number of layers to 
check the authenticity of the user. That could curb hacking to some 
extent,” he said.

One can hack into a system from a cyber café and the Pune Central Cyber 
Café Association has tried to put a safeguard in place. Association 
president Rahul Pokale said, “We don’t let any user inside a café 
without first asking for an identity proof such as a driving licence or 
PAN card, with the person’s photograph on it. We keep a photocopy. If 
anyone refuses to produce such proof, we not only deny them access but 
sometimes even inform the police if the customer is adamant.”

At the Balewadi sports complex, the police said the Fi connections are 
well-protected. “We willl not allow visitors, expect authorised 
journalists and VIPs, to carry laptops into the sports complex,” the 
Commissioner of Police said.


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