Wifi virus latest threat to future IT security

The researchers found the virus was able to avoid detection and identify the points at which WiFi access is least protected by encryption and passwords Researchers at the University of Liverpool have shown for the first time that WiFi networks can be infected with a virus that can move through densely populated areas as efficiently as the common cold spreads between humans. The team designed and simulated an attack by a virus, called  Chameleon , and found that not only could it spread quickly between homes and businesses, but it was able to avoid detection and identify the points at which WiFi access is least protected by encryption and passwords. Airborne virus Researchers from the University's School of  Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science , simulated an attack on Belfast and London in a laboratory setting, and found that  Chameleon behaved like an airborne virus, travelling across the WiFi network via Access Points (APs) that connect households and businesses to WiFi networks. "When Chameleon attacked an AP it didn't affect how it worked, but was able to collect and report the credentials of all other WiFi users who connected to it” - Areas that are more densely populated have more APs in closer proximity to each other, which meant that the virus propagated more quickly, particularly across networks connectable within a 10-50 metre radius. Alan Marshall, Professor of Network Security at the University, said: "When  Chameleon attacked an AP it didn't affect how it worked, but was able to collect and report the credentials of all other WiFi users who connected to it.