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List:       isn
Subject:    [ISN] First contagious WiFi computer virus goes airborne, spreads like the common cold
From:       InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews ! org>
Date:       2014-02-26 8:02:45
Message-ID: alpine.DEB.2.02.1402260802340.4068 () infosecnews ! org
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http://dailycaller.com/2014/02/25/first-contagious-wifi-computer-virus-goes-airborne-spreads-like-the-common-cold/


By Giuseppe Macri
The Daily Caller
02/25/2014

Computer science researchers have demonstrated for the first time how a 
digital virus can go airborne and spread via WiFi networks in populated 
areas at the same pace as a human diseases.

The "Chameleon" virus, designed by a University of Liverpool team, showed 
a remarkable amount of intelligence by avoiding detection and breaking 
into personal and business WiFi networks at their weakest points -- 
spreading at an alarming rate.

Network Security Professor Alan Marshall said the virus doesn't try to 
damage or disrupt established networks -- instead, the virus slips in 
unnoticed to collect the data and log-in information of all users 
connected to the network via WiFi, and seeks other WiFi networks through 
them — a much more subtle, sinister and dangerous objective.

"WiFi connections are increasingly a target for computer hackers because 
of well-documented security vulnerabilities, which make it difficult to 
detect and defend against a virus," Marshall said in a ScienceBlog report. 
"It was assumed, however, that it wasn't possible to develop a virus that 
could attack WiFi networks -- but we demonstrated that this is possible 
and that it can spread quickly."

[...]



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