A recent article by the Associated Press (11 Charged in Connection with Credit Card Fraud) discusses how a group of international criminals hacked into a number of computer networks using “Wardriving”. 

And I quote, “Sullivan said the alleged thieves weren’t computer geniuses, just opportunists who used a technique called “wardriving,” which involved cruising through different areas with a laptop and looking for accessible wireless Internet signals. Once they located a vulnerable network, they installed so-called “sniffer programs” that captured credit and debit card numbers as they moved through a retailer’s processing networks.” 

Let me stress again, “Wardriving” is a totally legal and legitimate activity which has a poorly chosen name which the public (and the press) doesn’t seem to understand.  It is articles like these which cloud the issues and scare people when they hear about Wardriving.  All Wardriving does is listen to the networks within range do their thing.  To put it another way, Would you consider it a crime to drive around and count the number of houses with red doors on it?  No.  Neither would I.  Well that is all Wardriving is, except instead of counting the number of red doors it is counting the number of wireless access points are in the area.  The argument could be taken a step forward, would it be illegal to walk up to each and every house with a red door and check to see if it is unlocked?  I’d say that shows criminal intent.  So yes, Wardriving CAN be used for illegal activity, the same way a car can be used as a get-away vehicle in a robbery, or a rifle can be used in a murder.  All of these things have valid, legitimate uses.  I just wish something as harmless and fun as Wardriving wasn’t so criminalized.

Special thanks to Dave Roush of WJAC-TV Channel 6 News for coming up with the story idea and letting me talk about the dangers of small town wireless access insecurity.  You can check out the story and be sure to watch the video along with it. 

I’d like to give a big welcome to everybody visiting…hopefully you are interested in wireless security, especially in a small town like DuBois.  An update to the project and the people involved.  Jason Long is still the IST Program Coordinator and Instructor at Penn State DuBois.  The big change is that Garrett received his Bachelor of Arts in Letters, Arts and Sciences in August 2006. 

Please take advantage of the information on these pages, if you need anything please don’t hesitate to ask.  Thanks and good luck!

Started in October 2005, the DuBois WiFi Project was created to study the distribution and security settings of wireless access points in DuBois, PA.  DuBois, PA is a small rural city with approximately 8,000 people in town, and with a median household income of just under $28,000.  While we were unsure of the number of access points we would encounter, we hypothesized the majority of these access points would be insecure.  After finding that the majority of access points we encountered were insecure, we established this website in order to help wireless access users secure their access points.   

Garrett Roen is currently a canidate for a B.A. degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences from Penn State University.  He recently graduated with is A.S. in Information Sciences and Technology from Penn State’s DuBois campus.  Garrett has an interest in wireless security and designed this project to partially satisfy his graduation requirements.

Jason Long is an Instructor in Information Sciences and Technology.  He received his B.S. degree in Management Information Systems from Penn State University and M.S. degree in Information Systems from Penn State’s Great Valley campus.

If you have any comment or questions, you can contact us by emailing Garrett or registering and leaving a comment on this site.  Thanks!