FC: Canada's spy agency targets hobbyists mapping wireless networks

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 15:09:23 +0000
To: declan () well com
From: Greg Walton <jamyang () openflows org>
Subject: High-tech hobby falls under CSIS suspicion

Network mapping defined as threat to sensitive data
http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=25c5ce8f-6388-46ea-9741-65a7f3593c47


Newly obtained documents show the Canadian Security Intelligence Service 
took careful note last summer as computer hobbyists Jason Kaczor and Brad 
Haines invited participants to help find access points to wireless networks 
in Red Deer, Alta.

The high-tech phenomenon, known as war driving or net stumbling, involves 
cruising around a neighbourhood in search of networks in a car equipped 
with a laptop, wireless networking gear and a global positioning unit.

In a confidential intelligence report, CSIS painted the activity as a 
threat to the security of sensitive information.

[ ... ]

Mr. Haines sees war driving as beneficial to CSIS because it points out 
network vulnerabilities.

"We're actually out to help them in their job, because we've already done a 
lot of the legwork for them," he said. "It's perfectly legitimate, it's 
fun. Nobody's being hurt by it, in fact they're gaining knowledge from it."

He was particularly surprised at the attention from the spy agency in light 
of an encounter at a computer hackers convention in Las Vegas last summer. 
Mr. Haines met a woman he believes was a Canadian intelligence officer 
doing research on wireless security tools.
"Her job was to test out hardware and software for their use."




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