Security Octopus

You already know that if you want to lock down your Wi-Fi network, you should opt for WPA encryption because WEP is easy to crack. But did you know how easy? Take a look.

Today we’re going to run down, step-by-step, how to crack a Wi-Fi network with WEP security turned on. But first, a word: Knowledge is power, but power doesn’t mean you should be a jerk, or do anything illegal. Knowing how to pick a lock doesn’t make you a thief. Consider this post educational, or a proof-of-concept intellectual exercise.

Dozens of tutorials on how to crack WEP are already all over the internet using this method. Seriously—Google it. This ain’t what you’d call “news.” But what is surprising is that someone like me, with minimal networking experience, can get this done with free software and a cheap Wi-Fi adapter. Here’s how it goes.

Security Octopus Note: All SmartHide Service users should not worry about the safety of your WiFi network connection. Using SmartHide makes your access to Internet using WiFi completely secure and your personal data will be safe. This video shows the actual danger of using WiFi without proper protection.

Source: lifehacker.com

Numerous Twitter users are reporting that access to Twitter and Facebook has once again been blocked in mainland China. This latest blockade comes one month after China has blocked access to these two sites, together with other major social networks and search engines.

According to ComputerWorld, Twitter has already been inaccessible in the last couple of days; Web2Asia now reports that since 8pm Chinese time Facebook has also been blocked. This has been confirmed by users on Twitter, some of which link the latest blockade to Uighur protests in Xinjiang, which had left over 150 people killed and over 1,000 wounded.

This latest attempt at censorship comes as no surprise as the Chinese government has decided to tighten its control over the Internet in the last couple of months. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of censorship seem to react faster and work better each time they’re employed.

Source: Mashable.com

Under the court decision, the “Revinform” blog, which criticizes the local administration, will not be accessible in Bashkiriya. Grani.ru reports that the Kirov Court of Ufa found this site extremist.

As the Republic Prosecutor’s First Officer Larisa Kuchina, responsible for the interaction with mass media explained, the articles published on this site contain appeals stimulating the formation of opinions about the necessity of taking actions aimed at forcible change of the constitutional order and Russian Federation integrity violation. Besides that, articles contain statements forming the positive attitude towards terrorist organizations, she added.

“Kirov district Prosecutor’s Office of the city Ufa sent a petition to the court in compliance with the Federal Law “on Counteracting Extremist Activity“. The prosecutor’s petition was satisfied, the news agency was found extremist”

, said Mrs. Kuchina and added that very soon the access to the site will be closed for Bashkiriya residents.

However, as blog users observed, the provider-monopolist “Bashinformsvyaz” blocked the access to the whole Livejournal, instead of one blog, leaving most of Bashkiriya users without opportunities to write anything into the journal or to read friends’ entries. The site is still accessible via “Ufanet” provider, but the company must actually enforce the court decision as well.

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Following last weekend’s deadly riots in its western region of Xinjiang, China’s central government has taken all the usual steps to block citizens from accessing foreign web services: aside from crippling Internet service in general, the authorities have blocked Twitter, removed unapproved references to the violence from search engines and has now apparently moved to bar its citizens from accessing Facebook from most parts of Mainland China just now. Two weeks ago, the government had already blocked just about every Google service, including communication tools like Gmail, Google Apps and Google Talk.

Web2Asia’s George Godula writes:

“As of today 8pm Chinese time Facebook seems not to be accessible from most parts of China Mainland anymore. On the China Telecom connection of our Shanghai office the service vanished at around 7:45pm. Friends in Hong Kong are reporting that they can still access the website.”

A quick test on WebsitePulse confirms the blocking of Twitter and YouTube (which have been restricted for a while) and now Facebook too, at least in some parts of the country.

Source: TechCrunch.com

On the 4th of June 2009 China has blocked most major social networks and search engines during the anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. Now, the Chinese authorities want to take it a step further, ordering that all PCs sold in the country, starting July 1, must come with software that blocks certain websites.

According to the Chinese government, who haven’t yet gone public with the announcement, but have warned PC makers about the deadline, this measure’s aim is to protect the Chinese from harmful content, primarily pornography. But since this same government has blocked sites like Twitter, YouTube, MySpace and Bing, it’s quite possible that this software’s primary aim is adding another layer of censorship over the existing Great Firewall.

The Chinese authorities have, however, taken a somewhat lax approach – for now. According to the WSJ, the software, whose Chinese name is “Green Dam-Youth Escort” needn’t be pre-installed on the PCs; it may simply come in the form of a CD, and the users can choose whether they want to install it or not. The software is designed in such a way that it allows transferring of user’s private information, as well as blocking sites other than pornography; according to software’s developer, Jinhui Computer System Engineering Co, it would have no reason to do so. It doesn’t sound very convincing, and given a choice, I’d definitely skip it; it’s unclear, however, whether the authorities plan to somehow pressure users into installing the software.

There’s always hope that the PC makers will try to resist these claims from the Chinese authorities, but it’s hard to imagine them saying no, given the importance of the Chinese market. Furthermore, as we’ve seen in this latest blockade, there’s always a technical workaround for these types of censorship attempts. However, if Chinese censors had control of what happens on user computers locally, as well as being able to block certain online destinations, it would make it much harder for users to circumvent such measures.

Eircom, Ireland’s biggest internet provider, has agreed to block access to any website the music industry says is responsible for illegal music-swapping.

In a letter sent to ISPs across the country last week, the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) disclosed the deal and warned others to follow suit or face legal action.

Bowing to legal pressure from the music labels, Eircom had earlier settled to implement a French-style “three strikes” rule to disconnect customers repeatedly accused of illegally accessing copyrighted material. But a recent letter revealed IRMA’s more worrisome scheme against internet piracy.

IRMA – which represents the “big four” labels; EMI, Sony-BMG, Universal and Warner – will compile a list of websites the group claims harbors illegal music sharing. The labels will then file a court order to attempt to force other Irish internet providers to block access to the site. Eircom’s compliance will be automatic.

Under the settlement deal, Eircom has agreed not to oppose any court applications to blacklist websites. Speaking to The Sunday Business Post, an Eircom spokesperson confirmed IRMAs claims of the provider’s automatic compliance.

The music labels said the notorious den of P2P, The Pirate Bay, will be the first website targeted under its new censorship regime before it moves unto “similar websites.”

IRMA’s letter demanded other Irish ISPs join blocking websites on the music group’s list or they’ll face a lawsuit the same as Eircom. ®

Source: TheRegister.co.uk

Cyber criminals are taking advantage of our increasing reliance on computers and the Internet, CNN reports on June 22. Panda Security, a Spain-based antivirus maker, has been monitoring an onslaught of links with malicious software, or “malware,” on Twitter that tag hot topics such as the Air France crash, the NBA finals and the new iPhone.

“Cyber criminals are creating thousands of messages on Twitter embedded with words involving trending topics and malicious URLs,” states Sean-Paul Correll, a threat researcher for Panda Labs.

The growing sophistication of malware attacks mirrors the growing threat — and cash — generated by online crime. Already, cyber crime is estimated to cost companies and consumers more than $100 billion worldwide. Some officials claim it has now eclipsed illegal drugs as a criminal moneymaker.

Cyber crime is one of the few industries benefiting from the financial crisis. Last year, antivirus maker McAfee saw a 500 percent increase in malware types — more than the company had seen in the previous five years combined. In the United States, the FBI reported a 33 percent increase in Internet crime last year.

Companies lost an average of $4.6 million in intellectual property last year, according to a survey of 1000 firms worldwide by Purdue University and McAfee.

Here is what can happen with you if you do not use SmartHide Service:

A Danish court has ruled that all Danish ISPs have to deny their users access to The Pirate Bay. Most broadband providers are not too happy with this unbalanced decision, and three of them have already announced that they will take it to the Supreme Court.

In a court case initiated by the IFPI, a Danish judge ruled last year that Tele2 had to block its users from accessing The Pirate Bay. IFPI argued that Tele2 was assisting in mass copyright infringement, and that access to the site therefore had to be blocked.

At the time, The Pirate Bay co-founder Brokep told TorrentFreak: “I hope the torrent community understands what this will do to Danish people. It will also act as a very bad precedent for the European Union, and I hope everybody will fight this.”

Unfortunately for the many Danish Pirate Bay users, it got even worse. Last month TDC, Denmark’s largest ISP and owner of most of the cables, decided to block access to The Pirate Bay as a preventive measure. And now, a Danish court has ruled that all ISPs will have to do the same, or else they will face a hefty fine.

The ISPs, however, are not planning to accept the court order without a fight. TDC, Telia and Telenor have announced that they are going to appeal the decision, and they will take the case to the Supreme Court. One of their arguments is that they are not responsible for the potential copyright infringement of their subscribers.

“Accessing The Pirate Bay is not in itself a violation of copyright,” Jens Ottosen of Telia told dn.se. “We make access possible for our subscribers, and they have to decide if it is illegal. It is not our task. If so, we also contribute to illegalities on YouTube, Myspace and Google. It is completely cluttered,” said Ottosen, who is also Chairman of the Danish telecom industry.

Indeed, this case is about more than just The Pirate Bay, it is about censoring the Internet. Will YouTube with all its copyright infringing content be next on the list? Despite the argument whether it is fair to block a BitTorrent site or not, it is completely ineffective. It is fairly easy to circumvent, and all the publicity will only drive the traffic figures up.

In an apparent crackdown on Internet gambling, federal authorities in New York have frozen or seized bank accounts worth $34 million belonging to 27,000 online poker players, according to representatives for the players and account holders.

In an operation that began last week, the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York froze or issued seizure orders for bank accounts in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Arizona held at Wells Fargo, Citibank, Goldwater Bank and Alliance Bank of Arizona.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office had no comment.

The accounts are managed by Allied Systems Inc., and Account Services, which handle cash for popular online poker sites, including Full Tilt Poker, Poker Stars, Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker. Though the money belongs to the poker players, it is held for them in accounts managed by the two service companies.

Account Services, which had an account worth $15 million frozen in its San Francisco bank, doesn’t accept deposits, but writes checks to players who are cashing out, said lawyer for the company, Jeff Ifrah. As a result, thousands of players receiving checks from the company won’t be able to cash them, he said.

The seizures come as a debate over Internet gambling heats up in Washington. Last month, U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D., Mass.) introduced a bill that would legalize and regulate Internet gambling.

Federal authorities say online gambling is illegal, but Internet-gambling advocates say it is a gray legal area. In 2006, Congress passed a law making it illegal for banks to processing payments for unlawful Internet gambling. Critics say the law is unclear.

Poker players don’t consider poker a game of chance, but a game of skill, and argue that poker shouldn’t be lumped in with sports betting, for example.

The government has prosecuted Internet gambling in the past, including sites that allow users to bet on sports and play poker. The massive seizure by the U.S. attorney is the first time federal authorities have targeted online poker accounts, according the Poker Players Alliance, a Washington-based lobbying group for online poker players.

The Alliance said there are 10 million Americans who play online poker for money, and estimated the market at $6 billion.

The Alliance “is disappointed that this unprecedented action has been commenced against law abiding poker players,” said former U.S. Senator and Alliance Chairman Alfonse D’Amato in a written statement.