When using wireless technology, security is important. Anybody can observe the traffic between your computer and your router. The only thing keeping your data private (unless otherwise guarded by something like SSL) is the encryption you’ve set up on your router. WEP is about as strong as a wet tissue. We’ve relied on WPA being strong to keep our data safe.
It turns out that dependent upon how you’ve configured the WPA you use, it may not be as safe as you thought. Researchers have found a way to crack into a WPA with TKIP connection. For now, it only allows the hacker to read the data coming out of the router. In 12-15 minutes, the researchers can collect enough data to gain access.
For now, if you’ve got the equipment for it, you should configure your router to use WPA2 with AES. This latest crack doesn’t work in that configuration as it seems to rely on weakness in TKIP. More details will be revealed at PacSec next week.
