August 3, 2006
Be safe, be wirelessless
If your computer can connect to wireless networks, there's a good chance it is vulnerable to being hacked. The problem is the device drivers for the wireless connection, so all operating systems are at risk. Read more here; if the term "wirelesslessness" takes off, you can say you first spotted it here.
UPDATE here: apparently Apple tried to make it look as if the fault lay with third-party drivers, though now it seems Apple's own drivers are equally vulnerable.
Posted by David on August 3, 2006 3:46 PM
Somebody in a bad mood? First you warn us that we're going to lose all our pictures, now you tell us that we should be wirelessless!
I take it that the cool front hasn't passed through Providence yet.
Posted by: Michael Tinkler on August 3, 2006 6:02 PM
Ahh -- the coolth has finally arrived.
Now for some cheerier posts. . . .
Posted by: David on August 4, 2006 10:06 AM
If I'm not mistaken, it's only when you use a particular non-Apple wireless adapter.
The issue doesn't effect Apple AirPort cards that are standard these days.
Posted by: Jon H on August 4, 2006 4:54 PM
Nope -- not according to the source linked in the update to the original post. Key lines:
In his follow-up post at 9:00 a.m. ET on August 3 Krebs mentions that the exploit does indeed work with the default MacBook wireless device driver and that Apple had pressured the hackers to use a third-party wireless card in a USB card reader attached to the MacBook. . .
So, it turns out that MacBook users aren't are safe from the exploit as Apple's PR machine would have you believe. If you want to stay as safe as possible keep your Airport connection turned off when it's not in use and never connect to an unknown WiFi access point.
Posted by: David on August 4, 2006 10:47 PM
cronaca.com