Security Holes Found in "Airport" Wireless Technology

Researchers at the University of California Berkley say they have discovered several vulnerabilities in the wireless technology encorporated into the popular Apple "Airport" wireless communication device. The problem lies in the 802.11 security protocol, otherwise known as WEP.

According to the researchers report, they have found ways to access even restricted networks, intercept transmissions, and even modify those transmissions as they are sent. These packets could even be modified without disturbing the checksum, which is intended to make sure information is not tampered with or corrupted.

One member of the team that originally developed the software also known as Wi-Fi, Greg Ennis, told the Wall Street Journal that the software "has been known from the outset not to be an end-all-be-all security system." Part of the problem, of the Berkley researchers said, was that the cryptography community was never approached in the design of the protocol.

Ennis also told the Journal that this type of attack would require a consorted effort to accomplish, but the researchers refute this assertion because the scripts to do so could be written by a technically advanced individual and distributed to "script kiddies" everywhere.

For more information read the FAQ at the researchers Web site.