I Didn’t Download it, My Router Got Hacked!

[admin]

People accused of uploading the game ‘Dream Pinball’ who claim they are the victim of a hacker, are starting to get letters back from lawyers explaining what they should do next. Among other things, the lawyers are demanding that the accused demonstrate computer security skills in providing evidence detailing exactly how their equipment was exploited.

http://torrentfreak.com/i-didnt-download-it-my-router-got-hacked/

[locoeng]

In other words, forget ‘Innocent Until Proven Guilty‘ and start getting used to ‘Guilty! Now Prove Yourself Innocent!‘

Been that way for a while now....

1. A copy of the instructions accompanying the router
2. Evidence to prove the use of anti-virus software and firewall
3. Evidence detailing exactly how the computer was compromised.
4. Evidence to prove the victim took adequate measures to prevent the intrusion.

Despite the fact that producing evidence should be up to the lawyers when dealing with cases, quite how the production of a router manual will affect this case is unclear. Presumably you send off the manual for their tech people to look at, then they use the fact that your router is ‘easily secured’ or the fact that you didn’t read the book, against you.

I guess that the contention now will say that if you are smart enough to own a PC, you should be smart enough to secure it...if you don't take all necessary actions to secure your network then when a hacker gets his talons dug in and uses your connection for seedy activity it is your fault and not Mr. Baddie. Ignorance of the law has never been a viable plea, but this is rediculous.

[jm1647]

I Didn’t Download it, My Router Got Hacked!

Reminds me of the old "The Dog Ate my Homework"

[locoeng]

But how would you feel if you really were innocent...I know of three unsecured networks within range of my living room.

[admin]

In some countries it is illegal to use someone elses' wireless network, even if unsecured - this about Singapore:

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/12/1535227

[locoeng]

In some countries it is illegal to use someone elses' wireless network, even if unsecured - this about Singapore:

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.../11/12/1535227

AFAIK it's illegal here in the states to tap into someone elses network, I was just stating how easy it would be if I wanted to use it for whatever I could.

[admin]

You're right, a lot of people who set up a wireless router don't really know or want to know about encryption and all that (until they discover their broadband speed is down to a crawl and all their quota has been used). Luckily, my closest neighbour is about 200m aways from me, so I'm protected by distance (but I still have encryption on in any case).

[locoeng]

I live in a cul-de-sac and you would think that distance would be my friend too, but it isn't the case. Luckily most of these people turn off the router when they aren't home or aren't using it because they don't always show up in my connections that are within my range. I guess it's just their dumb luck.

[jm1647]

But how would you feel if you really were innocent...I know of three unsecured networks within range of my living room.

I know some of the people are innocent but it's a good excuse for the people that do it and get caught to try to use . And it looks like the opposition came up with a good response to prove that it was.

A lot of people get routers and install them with out reading the book and don't use what they can to keep people off like WEP and the MAC address restrictions. I would like to have a $1 for every linksys router out there that still has the default password.

I live on a cul-de-sac also, right in the middle at the end. When I got my laptop in December and fired it up and tried the wireless connection I got on line in a heartbeat .

I have my house wired and have all 3 boxes and a laptop hard wired up to my linksys router which is not wireless

[locoeng]

No Wi-Fi for Jim? I don't know how I could live without the portability...

[jm1647]

No Wi-Fi for Jim? I don't know how I could live without the portability...

I have all 3 floors of the house wired and can plug the laptop in that way. And probably too cheap to by a wireless router I can use the laptop from the kitchen or from the family room, the second floor and the basement in the house. If I wanted to take the laptop outside and use it (which I doubt) I could use one of the neighbors Wi-Fi connections

[locoeng]

I like to go out by the pool and sip on a margarita in the summer time.

[Chewy]

closest neighbour is about 200m aways from me

dish antenna with soda canantenna, no problem, g tranmission at full bandwidth

now the $1000 overage bill would be an issue

[locoeng]

dish antenna with soda canantenna, no problem, g tranmission at full bandwidth

now the $1000 overage bill would be an issue

I've seen that setup before...jmet?

[jm1647]

I like to go out by the pool and sip on a margarita in the summer time.

Me too, I take my Red Dogs but go in the pool