Wednesday, March 12, 2014

This Is Why WiFi Networks Are Dangerous To Your Computer

At the University of Liverpool, researchers have demonstrated how computer viruses may get your computer sick over WiFi networks.

The team has shown how WiFi networks could be used to make a computer virus contagious through the air.  The viruses can move through densely populated coffee shops and internet cafes just like the common cold.

The researchers came up with a virus known as ‘Chameleon’ that simulates how it could move through networks.  The Chameleon virus are able to spread like wild fire from homes and businesses.
The Chameleon is able to avoid detection and identify WiFi access points that are not protected by encryption and passwords.

Heavily populated areas have more access points in closer proximity to each other, thus allowing the virus to generate more quickly across networks connected within a 30 – to 200 foot radius.


computer-virus


When the ‘Chameleon’ attacks an AP (access points) it did not affect how it worked, but was still able to collect and report the information from all the other WiFi users who connected to it.

Alan Marshall, Professor of Network Security at the University, said in a statement. “The virus then sought out other WiFi APs that it could connect to and infect.
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1113080169/computer-viruses-airborne-wifi-networks-022514/#JLmYtwgeCpQCj7Cm.99.
The virus was able to be avoided from being detected within the current systems that looks for viruses that have been found on the Internet and on computers.  This is because Chameleon is only present when WiFi networks are on.

Many WiFi connections are increasingly a target for computer hackers because of the many known security vulnerabilities.  It has been assumed that it wasn’t possible for a virus to attack WiFi networks but the Chameleon has shown that it is very possible to spread them quickly.

Click here for a video on how WiFi networks can spread computer viruses through the air.

When using a public WiFi access point, make sure all your important documents are secure and never save passwords to your computer.   Always have a good anti-virus and keep your system up-to-date.

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References:

WiFi Networks Could Be Used To Transmit Computer Viruses
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1113080169/computer-viruses-airborne-wifi-networks-022514/#JLmYtwgeCpQCj7Cm.99

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