Eircom contacts customers in wireless-security scare
02/10/2007 - 11:42:01Eircom is to contact up to 250,000 of its customers regarding a security issue relating to the companies wireless modems.
It has emerged that hackers can tap into certain models of the Netopia series routers without the account holders knowledge or consent.
The security breach affects the Netopia 3300 and 2247 series routers.
Wireless broadband systems have always been vulnerable to abuse because people other than the subscriber can use the internet connection. It has been known for people to park their cars outside hotels, work on their laptops, and use the hotels Internet connection for free.
A spokesperson at Eircom said it would take someone with technical expertise to be able to 'piggy back' on someone else's broadband connection.
In the worst-case scenario, the account holder would be held responsible for unsavoury or illegal content accessed by the hacker.
Customers are advised to change their default WEP key and password in order to provide a basic level of security.
But he pointed out that no wireless system offered complete protection from abuse.
Full instructions on how to improve security are available on Eircom's broadband website.
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