Tech & Biz

Mumbai Police To Enforce Wi-Fi Security

by Jordan Yerman | January 10, 2009 at 11:43 am

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Mumbai police will be sniffing out open Wi-Fi networks in an attempt to somehow secure them.

In an initiative taken by the Mumbai police, in the backdrop of terror mails sent before blasts and terror attacks, policemen will be sent to various locations in the city in search of unsecured Wi-Fi connections.

This isn't quite as good an idea as it may seem, since, even if secured, all too many wireless-router owners choose a really easy password, or leave it at the default. Also, the plan doesn't seem to have much to say about EDGE/GPRS-enabled phones, and their non-reliance upon Wi-Fi.

Unfortunately, a gesture like this does not take into account the insidious scenario of walking into a cafe, buying a coffee and then (legally) using the cafe's wi-fi.

If your anti-terror plan can be circumvented by purchasing a cup of coffee, perhaps it's time to re-think the plan.

On a related note, a plan was in the works to require keylogging software in Mumbai's cyber cafés, but I'm not sure if it actually came to fruition: all the online material that I can find (and am capable of reading) discusses the plan itself, but not the execution.

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Uwe Paschen

at 13:53 on January 10th, 2009

That would mean that all the FUN networks will be shut down so much for a great idea going down the drain.

Fripouille

at 14:41 on January 11th, 2009

Interesting article. Thanks.

In my humble opinion it should be read within the context of the now-known catastrophic failure of Indian intelligence authorities to correcectly monitor the 32 cellphone numbers used by the Mumbai attackers, as well as their conversations with their Pakistani handlers..

These numbers were known in advance, but a lack of coordination resulted in these numbers not being monitored until day two of the attack Previous conversations are now available online and the Indian Government has been caught with its pants down.

Hence all this paranioa and flapping about.......