Wardriving Attack

 

What Is a Wardriving Attack?

The wardriving process itself is not dangerous, but if hackers gain unauthorized access to a Wi-Fi network, they could access any computer, laptop, or mobile device connected to it. This can give them the foundation to install malware on the user’s network and steal information from devices connected to the network, such as bank or credit card data and private documents and files. 

The attacker may also carry out illegal activity using the network, such as broader identity theft attacks, that could lead to financial loss or result in the network owner being charged with criminal acts.

Is Wardriving Illegal?

There are no laws that specifically say wardriving is illegal. There is no law against gathering or collecting data from wireless networks or creating computer-generated maps. However, attackers can use the process to exploit insecure networks, which creates a gray area around protecting personal privacy. Wardriving can be dangerous and illegal when it involves accessing private and corporate networks.

A good example of the gray area around wardriving is Google’s Street View, which involves cars recording footage for interactive, online panoramas. Street View was used for wardriving by Google, which used equipment to locate local-area networks (LANs), wireless hotspots, and home Wi-Fi networks.

How To Prevent Wardriving

There are network security practices that can help users avoid the risks associated with wardriving. 

1. Turn off the Wi-Fi network when not in use: Turning off a Wi-Fi router when nobody is home or when it is not being used will prevent the network from being accessed by hackers.
2. Change the router’s default factory password: Wi-Fi router manufacturers typically assign a standard username and password, which helps users quickly set up and configure the device. These default credentials may be known to hackers, so it is vital to change the login to a unique name and password combination.
3. Use encryption: Wi-Fi routers can be set only to allow access when the correct password is entered. This uses encryption standards like Wi-Fi Protected Access
4. Install a firewall: Firewalls are crucial to protecting networks because they monitor access requests and block any activity from unapproved sources. Users should use firewalls to add an extra layer of security to their standard Wi-Fi setup.