Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: FBI probing 'war chalking'?
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 13:37:37 -0400
-----Original Message----- From: "Jim Thompson"<jim () netgate com> Sent: 8/13/02 4:26:03 PM To: "Dave Farber"<dave () farber net> Cc: "doc () searls com"<doc () searls com>, "afr () netstumbler com"<afr () netstumbler com> Subject: FBI probing 'war chalking'? There is an Special Agent named "Bill Shore" in the Pittsburgh field office. I've spoken to him, this is his. He forwarded it to an 'infoguard' list Forwarded by my local Time-Warner/Road Runner 'insider'. Jim ---------- From: Bill Shore [mailto:billshore () fbi gov] Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 9:56 AM To: billshore () fbi gov Subject: Wireless networks - Warchalking/Wardriving It has recently been brought to my attention that individuals/groups have been actively working in the Pittsburgh area as well as other areas of the United States including Philadelphia, and Boston, and the rest of the world for that matter, to identify locations where wireless networks are implemented. This is done by a technique identified as "Wardriving." Wardriving is accomplished by driving around in a vehicle using a laptop computer equipped with appropriate hardware and software http://www.netstumbler.com/ to identify wireless networks used in commercial and/or residential areas. Upon identifying a wireless network, the access point can be marked with a coded symbol, or "warchalked." This symbol will alert others of the presence of a wireless network. The network can then be accessed with the proper equipment and utilized by the individual(s) to access the Internet, download email, and potentially compromise your systems. In Pittsburgh, the individuals are essentially attempting to map the entire city to identify the wireless access points, see here, http://mapserver.zhrodague.net/cgi- bin/mapserv?mode=browse&layer=all&layer=q uadsheets&layer=borough&layer=roads&layer=ap&zoomdir=1&zoomsize=2&imgxy=458+ 165&imgext=-80.175489+40.268422+-79.733217+40.621536&map=%2Fmnt%2Fhog%2Fwebs ites%2Fmapserver%2Fpublic_html%2Fpa%2Fpgh.map&savequery=true&program=%2Fcgi- bin%2Fmapserv&map_web_imagepath=%2Fmnt%2Fhog%2Fwebsites%2Fmapserver%2Fpublic _html%2Ftmp%2F&map_web_imageurl=%2Ftmp%2F&img.x=250&img.y=197. Also, check this article from pghwireless.com, http://www.pghwireless.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=19 Identifying the presence of a wireless network may not be a criminal violation, however, there may be criminal violations if the network is actually accessed including theft of services, interception of communications, misuse of computing resources, up to and including violations of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute, Theft of Trade Secrets, and other federal violations. At this point, I am not aware of any malicious activity that has been reported to the FBI here in Pittsburgh, however, you are cautioned regarding this activity if you have implemented a wireless network in your business. You are also highly encouraged to implement appropriate wireless security practices to protect your information assets, http://www.cert.org/research/isw/isw2001/papers/Kabara-31-08.pdf There are several articles available with additional details including http://www.warchalking.org as well as http://www.pghwireless.com. A copy of the coding symbols is attached in .pdf format. If you notice these symbols at your place of business, it is likely your network has [Message truncated. Tap Edit->Mark for Download to get remaining portion.] For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
Current thread:
- IP: FBI probing 'war chalking'? Dave Farber (Aug 13)