Wi-Fi Security Flaw Makes Smartphones Dumb, Can Expose Credit Card Numbers

Wi -Fi security flaw for smartphones puts your credit cards at risk (from Guardian on 4-26-2011) Millions of smartphone users and BT customers who use Wi-Fi wireless internet "hotspot" connections in public are vulnerable to fraud and identity theft, a Guardian investigation has established. security Experts were able to gather usernames, passwords and messages from phones using Wi-Fi in public places. In the case of the best-selling Apple iPhone 4 and other smartphone handsets, the information could be harvested without the users' knowledge and even when they were not actively surfing the web if the phone was turned on..... read more»

Wardriving gang targeting small firms (from Help Net Security on 4-26-2011) A group of individuals who are believed to have been engaged in wardriving around Seattle and stealing personal and financial information from networks belonging to small area businesses during the last five years, are currently being investigated by the local police. Apparently, the gang has been using a black 1988 Mercedes Benz - customized with a range-boosting antenna, a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop with a passenger-seat mount and tinted windows - for driving around and searching for WEP encrypte... read more»

Related articles

• You: Smartphones prone to security risk (guardian.co.uk)
• Smartphone and laptop users who connect to Wi-Fi in public place at risk of having credit card details stolen (dailymail.co.uk)
• Security flaw puts UK smartphone users' information in jeopardy (thenextweb.com)
• Smartphone and laptop users who connect to Wi-Fi in public 'risk having their credit card details stolen' (dailymail.co.uk)
• Wi-Fi security flaw for smartphones puts your credit cards at risk (terryolgin.wordpress.com)