On Tue, 2003-10-14 at 20:07, Crispin Cowan wrote:
> A friend posed this question, and I have no idea what the answer might be:
>
> If I'm running an open, non-encrypted wireless network, what is (say) the
> FBI allowed to intercept in an effort to gain evidence? Do they need a
> warrant? Is the data admissible? What if I live in an apartment with
> other folks. What about when I'm using a t-mobile hotspot?
Since they can get to your WAP without leaving their office, I would
guess not.
> Same questions, but this time, I'm running an encrypted network? Can they
> capture the data and crack the key? Can they capture it for later use after
> they sieze my equipment and get my key?
Rubber hose cryptanalysis usually works. Also, if you use the standard
802.11b encryption, things like AirSnort will break it given enough
traffic.
> No, I'm not under surveillance
That you know of.
> I'm giving a presentation and I know I'm
> going to get asked these questions.
>
>
> Any lawmen out there know the actual answer?
The law is what they can get away with. Since monitoring of a wireless
network is passive, how can you prove that they listened in? (Since
courts can now accept spectral evidence in cases of "national security"
(especially when monitoring foreign nationals), you would never see what
they held against you.)
--
alan at clueserver.org - alan at ctrl-alt-del.com
"...new-fangled and artificial treasons have been the great
engines by which violent factions, the natural offspring of
free government, have usually wreaked their alternate
malignity on each other...."
- James Madison in The Federalist No. 43,
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Wed Oct 15 2003 - 14:41:11 PDT