[ISN] Police: Wireless network hacker targeted Seattle-area businesses

From: InfoSec News <alerts_at_infosecnews.org>
Date: Wed 27 Apr 2011 - 02:50:59 CDT
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Wireless-network-hacker-targeted-1344185.php

By LEVI PULKKINEN
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
April 19, 2011

Law officers have moved to seize a Seattle man's car they claim was used 
in a "wardriving" spree that saw Seattle-area wireless networks hacked 
and harvested for information.

In filings with the U.S. District Court at Seattle, investigators 
contend the 1988 Mercedes sedan was a rolling base of operations for 
hackers intent on forcing their way into wireless networks to obtain 
personal information.

Federal prosecutors describe the seizure requested last week as a small 
piece of a years-long investigation into a string of network intrusions 
and commercial burglaries in which two other Seattle men were accused of 
stealing $750,000 in computer equipment and other items.

Writing the court, Seattle Police Detective Chris Hansen said the car's 
owner is suspected of using sophisticated electronic equipment to break 
through networks using a 12-year-old security algorithm -- Wired 
Equivalent Privacy, or WEP protection -- since superseded by more modern 
defenses.

[...]
Received on Wed Apr 27 02:51:00 2011