Exploiting and Protecting 802.11b Wireless Networks
[Source: ExtremeTech]

NetStumbler, a shareware program available on www.netstumbler.com, used in conjunction with a Lucent-chipset based Orinoco NIC "sniffs" for wireless networks. The data that NetStumbler returns is truly amazing. When NetStumbler identifies an 802.11b signal, it logs the MAC address of the access point, the network name, SSID, manufacturer, channel that it was heard on, WEP Enabled (Yes or No), signal strength, signal to noise ratio, and various flags. In addition, if you have a GPS that outputs standard NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association's standards for data communication between marine instruments) data, the latitude and longitude data points are also entered into the log file. Additionally, a real-time display showing signal strength is available.

Click here for the full story

posted by Tracy Justus at 9/8/2001  

Law Enforcement concerned about RF Detectors
[Source: Kansas Police Officers Association]



According to reports from law enforcement agencies in the eastern part of the United States, Pep Boys automotive stores are selling an air freshener that is also capable of detecting RF from a cellular phone. When activated by RF, a set of lights on the air freshener illuminates. The danger is that suspects can use them to see if undercover personnel are wired with a body transmitter. For example, in Atlanta, offenders are reportedly using them to detect law enforcement personnel.

Apparently the air fresheners are being marketed to persons who listen to loud music in their cars and, consequently, cannot detect when their cellular phone is ringing. One version of the air freshener is in the shape of a small airplane on a glass globe. These devices also come in shape of blimps, helicopters, and planes, and are very inexpensive.

The device seems to detect all RF radiation in its immediate area, INCLUDING law enforcement frequencies. (Low wattage radio transmitters and newer digital body wires have not yet been tested, but will be soon.)

The State Liaison Office at the INTERPOL USNCB has opened a file on this; their case number 20010100128.

Here is some additional information:

An officer stopped at a Pep Boys recently and discovered that there is more than one brand. One was a clear plastic airplane air freshener from a Georgia company (no further information) that was advertised as an air freshener and cellular telephone notification device, good for 1.5 meters.

The other was the "Celi-Teli" Buddy Duck air freshener and cellular notification device that looked like a Duck. It is made in Taiwan and distributed to Pep Boys and Keystone automotive parts stores in the U.S., with a part number of ED 8081. It is distributed by American Auto Accessories, Inc. of 112-01 Northern Blvd., Corona, NY 11368, telephone 718-458-6200. The company has a website address of www.americanautoacc.com. However, the product is not shown on the website as of January 8, 2001. Their e-mail address is aaanyusa@aol.com. Retail on these products was $5.99. The product from Georgia was an airplane and you could plainly see the small circuit board and LED inside. It, like the duck, alerts you to an incoming cell phone call.

Additional information comes from the INTERPOL State Liaison office in Massachusetts:

We have come across two variations of this device. The first device is a cigarette lighter holder. It is made by RATEX Ltd. in Hong Kong and distributed in the USA by Tai Seng Video Marketing 170 South Spruce Ave. Suite 200 San Francisco, California. When we first discovered these devices, they were being given away by a video store in the Chinatown section of Boston.

The second device is a key chain that was being given away this past summer at a Biotech trade show in Boston. This device is called a "Handy-Light" and was being given away by a German company called DEVOFERM. The manufacturer of this device is unknown.

posted by Tracy Justus at 9/6/2001  

Shooting in Simi Valley
[Source: Simi Valley Police Department]



Three people were shot to death and two other wounded when a man entered a Simi Valley home on Wednesday just before 4:00pm and began shooting. Police are looking for the suspect, identified by the Simi Valley Police as Reynaldo Herrera Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a 35-year-old male approximate height of 5'5", 130-140 pounds and has dark hair and dark eyes. The suspect’s home is on Teasdale Street in Thousand Oaks where an arson fire broke out about a half-hour before the shootings. He was last seen driving away from the scene in a dark blue Ford Explorer, California license plate 4SCG647, that is registered to a car rental company.
posted by Tracy Justus at 9/6/2001  

FCC Construction and Operation Audit
[Source: FCC and APCO]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began a process of mailing hundreds of thousands of letters to license holders for all frequencies below 512 MHz. These letters will request a response to a question of the construction or “in use” status of all licenses including all public safety operations. With so many letters, the FCC will spread the mailing over several months beginning alphabetically. (If you have licenses that state “ Alabama , State of” and “State of Alabama ”, they will not appear together unless they are all associated with your TIN registration.)

FCC records show more than 56,000 public safety licensees who have not registered their TINs (Taxpayer Identification Numbers)! Failure to register your TIN will result in the delay of renewals, minor modifications and processing of major modifications and new applications, which could result in the loss of licenses (frequencies). This could be devastating to public safety agencies, with the current shortage of available spectrum. APCO urges public safety licensees to register their TINs immediately to avoid recoordination of frequencies or having to change out equipment, which can be costly and timely.

The FCC will ask if the station is constructed and currently operating in accordance with the parameters of the current FCC Authorization. A yes/no reply is expected. If the station is no longer operational and should be cancelled, the FCC wishes to know this as well. If there are extenuating circumstances, the FCC also requests that information in the form of an attachment.

There are potential penalties for misrepresenting information.

“An authorized employee of the licensee must certify to the accuracy of the response(s). Licensees must respond to the Bureau’s letter(s) within sixty (60) days of the date on the letter. Licensees must provide true and complete responses, and may be subject to sanctions for misrepresentations or willful material omissions.[1] The Commission may conduct random station inspections to insure the completeness and accuracy of the responses it receives.”

This action is intended to “cleanup” the FCC database and possibly free up some unused frequencies. One intent is to locate unused channels that can be freed up for re-assignment. APCO and public safety applauds this action, but warns all public safety agencies of certain unintended results. Many agencies have not maintained their contact information on their police, fire, ambulance, or other radio authorization license with the FCC. In such cases those agencies risk losing their license through automatic cancellation if they fail to respond. It is the responsibility of each licensee to maintain such information.

Further information is located on an FCC web site, which will eventually include the status of all licenses as to whether or not the FCC has received a response.

posted by Tracy Justus at 9/3/2001  

Amateur radio interference in the 470 - 471 MHz band
[Source: Bill Kelsey W6QC/SCRRBA]

Do you utilize a 'scanner' to listen to frequencies or channels in the 470 - 471 Megaherts (MHz) band in Southern California? Do you now hear amateur radio conversations in place of, or along with the stations that you have been trying to monitor?

This document will explain why this phenomenon occurs and what you can do to stop hearing the offending transmission.

This document requires Adobe's Acrobat Reader

posted by Tracy Justus at 9/2/2001