An end to Tinfoil? - Wifi-proof paint

[Canuckistanian]

Researchers say they have created a special kind of paint which can block out wireless signals.

It means security-conscious wireless users could block their neighbours from being able to access their home network - without having to set up encryption.

The paint contains an aluminium-iron oxide which resonates at the same frequency as wi-fi - or other radio waves - meaning the airborne data is absorbed and blocked.

By coating an entire room, signals can't get in and, crucially, can't get out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8279549.stm

[BrklynLiberal]

1. cool.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. No that is tinfoil on a whole new level

I wonder how safe it will be with the kiddies (and parrots) though.

I would consider it, except I'd have to coat the apartment.

[ecstatic]

3. I restrict my router access by mac address,

which by itself should be enough, but I also use encryption. I'm hoping that's enough?

[WeDidIt]

16. Spoofing MAC addresses over wireless is supersimple

It's one of several steps that should be taken to secure your home network. Always use WPA2. It's still crackable, but not within 60 seconds like WPA.

[Statistical]

25. Cracking WPA2 can be made extremely difficult if you take a couple simple steps

1) Change your SSID from default. Linksys by default comes out of the box w/ SSID of linksys. The SSID is hashed into passphrase so using a common SSID makes your network more vulnerable. There are lookup tables for the 1000 most common SSID used. If you SSID matches one of those 1000 your network can be hacked in about 1/1000th of the time. Even if you think you are unique apending a number to your SSID is a good idea. Instead of "statistical" use "Statisical 478!"

2) Use WPA2 and AES instead of WPA and/or TKIP. WPA has a theoretical weakness that allow hackers to shortcut the hacking time by attempting to impersonate your client (laptop, or other wireless device) in middle of the handshake. TKIP encryption algorithm is vulnerable to know plain-text attack. If the attcker knows the unencrypted version they can compared it to the encrypted version and determine the key.

3) Do NOT ever use a single word found in a dictionary. A computer with dual graphics cards can run an exhaustive search on every <9 letter word in dictionary in about 2 days. No matter which one you pick they will find it. They simply will try every single one.

3) Use a strong passphrase. Multiple words, spaces, capitalization, numbers, and special characters. A 13 digit sequence of random characters is essentially still unbreakable at this point. The closer your password is to random (while still being useful) the better it is.

"###St@tistic@l has ov3r 1000 p0sts on Dem Underground! W00t!###" would be very difficult to break by brute force but still easy enough to remember.


Short Version
1) Unique SSID
2) WPA2 ONLY!
3) Complex passphrase with 13+ characters including all 4 types (upper, lower, number, special).

[slampoet]

20. Oddly your network is easiest cracked by the people who live closest to you.

Like always the best security is being a good neighbor.

[Statistical]

22. Restricting MAC and hiding SSID are not real security.

WEP can be broken by "script kiddies" in about 30 seconds.
WPA with a weak password in about 5-30 minutes.
WPA w/ strong password using TKIP after about couple hours of sniffing traffick
WPA2 w/ AES and strong passphrase essentially unbreakable.

WPA2 using AES and a strong passphrase (not a single word from dictionary) is all you need. Anything else is "feel good security". Like putting an advanced biometric lock on a screendoor (theif just cuts the screen).

[ecstatic]

24. Thanks for the info! For some reason my router doesn't work properly

when on the WPA setting and I was forced to downgrade to just WEP. I struggled for weeks to find out why my router would work for a few minutes/hours then stop for hours/days. Netgear. Oh well....

[Statistical]

26. It might be Windows XP.

If you are running Windows XP early versions of it didn't support WPA or WPA2.

I forgot which Service Pack it was added in but you can find the patch here:
http://www.microsoft.com/DOWNLOADS/details.aspx?familyid=662BB74D-E7C1-48D6-95EE-1459234F4483&displaylang=en

Depending on the age of your router it could be a buggy implementation though.

[evlbstrd]

4. Encryption seems easier. nt

[Canuckistanian]

5. Encryptions can be broken

At least the simple WEP scheme. But there are better encryption schemes.

But the real advantage to this paint is the improvement over the "faraday cage" method of blocking high frequency radio waves.

This may be a big boon to research labs, hospitals and airports that need TOTAL control of stray RF.

[Swamp Rat]

6. WAP

and I named my network "VIRUS" :D

:hi:

[Canuckistanian]

7. No, I said "WEP"

"Wireless Encryption Protocol" is what Wifi networks use for security.

WAP is "Wireless Access Protocol", or, the "language" that cell phones use for web access.

Good to see you, Swampy! Are you back home now?

[Swamp Rat]

21. LOL!

I meant WPA. :D

[evlbstrd]

9. That's another case.

Besides, the steel siding on my house ensures that I can't surf the net from my deck.

[Canuckistanian]

11. Well, Wireless works two ways

If you can't steal your neighbor's wireless stream, he can't steal yours.

[evlbstrd]

13. Obviously.

I encrypt. It beats painting a room any day.

[Canuckistanian]

15. LOL

Point taken.

[ddeclue]

8. Got windows?

You really need a screen room or better yet an anechoic chamber if you really don't want a signal to get out.

[Canuckistanian]

14. From what I hear, this may rival Faraday cages

Or at least close enough for government work.

[Wounded Bear]

10. I vote we send 5 gallons to every movie thearter in America...free.

Put an end to idiots texting and talking while the show is on.

[Canuckistanian]

12. Hear, hear!

And no more extremely annoying ring-tones in the middle of the latest Oliver Stone movie.

Ow, wait. Oliver Stone's movies are annoying by themselves.

[tavalon]

17. I would be one of those saying that but

when I go to a movie, I've left my autistic son in a caregivers hands and she may need to urgently contact me. I also sometimes take in a late movie if I'm on call at work. Work needs to be able to get in touch with me. I always leave my phone on buzzer and leave the theater if I get a call. But texting and talking on the phone during the movie need to go find something else to do. That is terribly annoying.

[Statistical]

23. Sadly cellphones are on a different frequency.

Might be possible to make a different batch of paint but the problem is cellphone frequencies are a hodge podge jumble in this country, 850mhz, 1.9ghz, 1.7/2.1 ghz, and now the old TV 700mhz.

Doubt you could make a paint to block all that... maybe multiple coats from different blends would work. :)

[imdjh]

18. I'm rather looking forward to universal wi-fi of some sort.

We need more access, not less.

Besides, if I can't hook into my neighbor's DSL when my cable is down, it's a pain.

[frylock]

19. i think that i'll just stick with encryption and acl