NetConnX

Press Releases

January 5th 2003

For Immediate Release

NetConnX Technologies center of San Diego Newspaper Front Page Article regarding wireless network vulnerabilities

Los Angeles, CA, - January 5th 2002 - NetConnX Technologies and CEO Troy Saxton-Getty are the center focus of a front page article in this Sunday's edition of the Californian Newspaper and NCTIMES Online.

Story:Specialist: Wireless Networks Vulnerable
Staff Writer: Wyatt Haupt / NCTIMES
Staff Photograher: Steve Thornton / NCTIMES

TEMECULA ---- To the casual observer, Troy Saxton-Getty appears to be just another guy driving around town in a sport utility vehicle ---- something that is as common in Southwest County as soccer moms and $250,000 homes. But to an unsuspecting business owner, many of whom use wireless computers for day-to-day operations, Saxton-Getty could be a cyber threat on wheels.

Armed with a standard laptop computer, free software from the Internet and a low-cost antenna, Saxton-Getty, a local computer security expert, can drive by nearly all of the 250 wireless networks scattered throughout Southwest County and access confidential information such as credit card numbers and consumer information, in minutes. That's because the majority of those networks, nearly 95 percent by Saxton-Getty's estimation, are not protected with encryption that prevents hackers from gaining entry.
Saxton-Getty, founder of the privately held NetConnX Technologies in Temecula, drove around the west side of the city to show how easy it is for him and others to penetrate wireless networks. He said what makes penetrating the networks so easy is that they are basically radio broadcasts used to bounce signals through the air from one computer to another ---- making it extremely easy to intercept if there are no security measures in place. "Look, I've got a bunch of wireless networks right here," Saxton-Getty said, as he pointed to the screen on his laptop that was filled with about 20 local networks he said he could penetrate. "Our biggest fear is that the hacker community can pull up out in front of a particular business and access their computers."

Businesses made aware

While NetConnX makes its money providing professional services to companies that require data protection for their computer systems, the firm has spent countless hours ---- at no cost ---- informing area business leaders about the vulnerability of wireless networks, NetConnX President Mike Fitzpatrick said. And, when needed, the firm has installed safety mechanisms, such as a fire wall, to help prevent local networks from being used by hackers ---- also at no charge, Fitzpatrick said. Fire walls, which cost as little as $40, can prevent unauthorized users from gaining entry into a computer.

Once computer hackers gain entry, they have access to much of the system. That's because they have the ability to view and copy most computer files, browse the Internet and use it for whatever purpose they see fit, including committing cyber crimes. Because some files could be protected by a password, a hacker might not be able to access everything on a system, although most claim the security measures can be easily bypassed. "The big deal is that the Internet can be used to (upload) child pornography and commit crimes," Fitzpatrick said. "If that happens, then (law enforcement) is going back to the source ... that can cause problems for business owners who may not have known their computers were vulnerable." One such instance occurred last May, when Best Buy Co. Inc., a nationwide electronics retailer, was forced to shutter its wireless cash registers in 500 stores until the company had security installed amid reports that drive-by hackers had been swiping credit card data.

Anthony McLain, general manager of Saturn in Temecula, is among a handful of business leaders who have taken steps to secure their networks after Saxton-Getty warned them of possible security concerns. McLain said NetConnX basically advised him that the company's wireless network was easily accessible by hackers ---- something he previously feared was true. And to demonstrate, Saxton-Getty pulled up in front of the automotive dealership along Ynez Road and easily gained entry into its wireless network, he said. The network has since been secured. "It was kind of an eye-opener," McLain said.

Hackers host war drives Annual wireless security related damage more than doubled last year to $2 million per respondent, according to a recent study by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The study, which queried more than 500 large corporations and government agencies, also showed that 90 percent of those surveyed detected computer security breaches within the last year.

Alice Sullivan, president of the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, said NetConnX informed the chamber about the problems that can arise for businesses who do not have secured wireless networks. She said the civic group plans on hosting a discussion on the issue in February. "We are going to just try and educate our business community on the importance of having security on their systems and go from there," Sullivan said.

Local hackers, such as 23-year-old Trevor from Temecula, said that in the meantime they will take advantage of the many open wireless networks in Southwest County. Trevor, who asked that his last name not be revealed, said local hackers host "war driving" events in the area, in which participants go around hacking into as many wireless networks as possible in a certain period of time. "I can access some networks from as far away as 1,800 feet," he said.

War driving got its start in the San Francisco Bay Area a few years ago, when Northern California hackers started what has now become a worldwide phenomena. Participants would basically drive around and do what Saxton-Getty has done, with one notable exception. Once hackers had penetrated a wireless network they would often mark the location ")( ." The chalk marks would appear on sidewalks or buildings to indicate available wireless access points to subsequent hackers ---- the process was dubbed, "war chalking."

Popularity of wireless networks Wireless computer networks are popular choices among many business owners, Trevor said, mainly because they are cheaper to install than traditional systems that often require a maze of spaghetti-like wiring to fashion together computers in an office, bank or other establishment.

Wireless computers accounted for more than $2 billion in sales last year, and that figure is expected to climb higher in 2003, according to industry estimates. "Running wires is something that you cannot always do because you don't have the access to get to every computer," Trevor said. "It can be really expensive ($125 per computer station) to run a lot of cable through an office ... for a wireless network it can cost $80 to $100 per computer." When installing those wireless networks, whether at a car dealership, government or business office, Saxton-Getty recommends spending a few extra bucks on security measures. "If they have any common sense, they will put (security) software on," Saxton-Getty said. "Because if they don't, all someone has to do to access it, is drive by."

About NetConnX Technologies
NetConnX Technologies is a leading professional services organization providing tactical computer incident response, network defense, system security, business continuity and disaster recovery expertise, large scale migration support, automated software deployment & management, Directory & Meta Directory services, IP Billing & Revenue collection/mediation services for re-sale to the Value Added Reseller Community. NetConnX Technologies supports the Fortune 500 community, governments, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and other clients, who host, support or manage sensitive information in electronic environments.

Contact Information:

Robert Jones
Technical Business Communications, LLP
877-447-4410
info@techbizcom.com
www.techbizcom.com

John P. Miller, Public Relations Director
NetConnX Technologies
909-587-8227 Office
925-871-4789 Fax
Jmiller@netconnx.com

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