29/12/2005
Your friend code is...
Finally got it sussed.
Got back on the net at home (via wireless) and, to add a nice cherry on top, managed to get my Nintendo RSI on-line via my router so I can now play Mario Karters from anywhere in the world.
I had a practice go too. I managed to win my first race by a nose, then I lost the next 2 by some distance, then lost my fourth by about a pixel. More off-line practice needed I feel.
In other news:
Got Hitch-hiker's on DVD as well as another Miike Takashi fillum. So fillum night soon?
Have fun.
(oh and my "Friend code" is 094551543526 if you fancy a razz round Yoshi Falls one day)
21:30 Posted in Leisure | Permalink | Comments (8) | Email this | Tags: UK Blogs
Comments
Wow it just rolls right off your tongue, Mr. 0945.... Wait, is that a premium rate number? :P
I hope your wireless is using WPA encryption - slap on the wrist for Nintendo if they only support WEP encryption.
Posted by: Roger | 30/12/2005
Yes they only support WEP. I was on WPA and it was the change that screwed me up.
Tell me more re why this is bad. I'm a novice.
Posted by: Alby | 30/12/2005
Because it's "easy" to crack. There are tools out there that do it and require no real knowledge to use. That is to say, I could point you to a web page and you could do it just by following the steps.
All you need is a single computer with wireless and plenty of patience. The computer needs to record a large amount of a certain type of wireless traffic (say around 200,000 chunks) to have a chance at getting your key. When I was at my parents, I sniffed a nearby WEP network (purely out of interest to see how much of a problem this kind of thing would be - I had wireless and internet anyway so would hardly need to nick somebody elses). After about six hours it had captured, as I remember, about 1000 of these chunks. It was in the lead up to Christmas and I've no idea how much the network was being used so this doesn't necessarily mean anything. If it is typical, it would mean it would take about 50 days to get the data to break into your network.
It becomes much worse if the black hat has two wireless computers. In that case, one computer sniffs the network and the other waits for some legitimate data (from something within the network proper) and then effectively repeats that data to the wireless switch/router lots of times. This makes the important data we want to capture be generated much much quicker. I've seen it stated that using this technique it can take just five minutes to get the data and find the WEP key.
The thing is, you're faced with using WEP or not using WEP if you want to continue using your DS. Obviously WEP is better than nothing. The Wikipedia entry on WEP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WEP) says "Despite the weaknesses, WEP provides a level of security that can deter casual snooping."
Does that all make sense?
Posted by: Roger | 30/12/2005
So basically it only can be cracked when I'm using the DS or PC to access the net via the router? Is it safe if there's no active traffic through the router from a known device?
It's annoying that Nintendo have gone down this route 'cos the amount of time I'll be online with the DS is piffling compared with PC use. This may well change when Animal Crossng comes out tho'.
Cheers for the info tho'.
Posted by: Alby | 30/12/2005
Yes, if you aren't using the router then it doesn't generate the important data.
That doesn't mean that it is "safe" if you aren't using the router because somebody could already have the data they need.
I wouldn't worry yourself overly. Can you see any other wireless networks in your area?
Posted by: Roger | 30/12/2005
1 other on WPA.
Posted by: Alby | 30/12/2005
Hmm,
Seems to be some hoo hah on the internet about this one. For some reason most of the lambastings seem to have been directed Sony's way for initially launching the PSP without WPA support in Japan & the USofA and requiring a later firmware update to remedy. Unfortunately it looks like the DS does not have updatable firmware, (which seems a bit of an oversight for an online device) so I cant see how it can be made compatible without releasing a version 2.
It should be interesting to see what Nintendo do with this one as to what their long term strategy is likely to be for the future. They could be in some bother here, actually, as I suspect that all these fandangled new wifi hotspot thingies will want to use the most secure protocol available in order to avoid giving away free access to casual hackers.
Posted by: Uncle D | 31/12/2005
Are there lots of casual hackers then? I just can't see why anyone would bother spending 50 days trying to get into Alby's computer.
Posted by: Bosie | 02/01/2006
The comments are closed.