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 More than 50 per cent of Pune's wireless networks are vulnerable to hacking. So, if you recently logged in as a guest during a presentation or a meeting at an IT company, chances are that your computer may have been hacked
YOU may have enjoyed free Internet access during your recent to an IT company. Logged in as a guest, you not only enjoyed surfing the net, but if you got a good download speed you even slyly downloaded the one software or a song you wanted desperately.
Don't be so happy, if may have happened that while you were downloading your favourite stuff, a cyber criminal may have hacked into your system, stolen your data, password or credit card details causing immense damage to you or your company.
During a survey called War Driving jointly conducted by Clubhack and Pune police it was found that more than 50 per cent of city's wireless network system was vulnerable to hacking.
The study also observed that 20-odd IT companies in Pune did not have their Guest Network Wireless System encrypted.
Guest Wireless Access allows guests those attending conferences and meetings during their visit to a company to connect their laptop, pocket PC or PDA with wireless capability.
Unencrypted
According to Rohit Srivastwa a well known security evangelist and Clubhack founder most IT companies in Pune that offer free wireless Internet to visiting guests, are unencrypted and so can be easily hacked.
Although, Internet access in these companies may restrict a lot of regular activities, whatever security they offer at the gateway level, is enough to risk your computer.
The users, mostly executives from various partner/vendor organizations, may access critical data via these unencrypted wireless systems.
"Pune is home to some of the major IT companies, especially in Hinjewadi. These companies mostly allow wireless access to visiting guests.
One would assume that logging on to WiFi in the premises of these companies is safe. But our study indicates otherwise. They are as unsafe as any other open WiFi network in the city," said Srivastwa, whose organisation Clubhack spreads security awareness.
Srivastwa, who also advises several military agencies, law enforcement personnel, media, corporate and government bodies, says many believe that since they are using the Internet in the campus of IT companies, they are secured and do not have to worry about being hacked.
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