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See the original image at i-hacked.com

How To: Wifi Predator

i-hacked.com — The predator is a modified wireless router connected to a high-powered antenna and running custom firmware to actively seek out open wireless connections. Once they are found, it will test them for internet connectivity and then join and repeat the one with the strongest signal to secured wireless connection that YOU control.

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  • SimianSamurai, on 04/16/2008, -0/+53I practically need this to find my own wireless signal. Damn Belkin routers...
    • Spuy767, on 04/16/2008, -3/+4I was wondering why these guys used a Buffalo router when a WRT54G from Linksys, it seems, would be easier to configure as it runs its own lightweight linux kernel that can be reprogrammed rather easily.
      • Spuy767, on 04/16/2008, -2/+4People should likely disregard everything I say this early in the morning.
      • BOFH139, on 04/16/2008, -0/+3DD-WRT has teaming up with Buffalo. They were previously using a hacked up Korean firmware {under licence} with is really bad.
      • shifty2, on 04/16/2008, -0/+3The new WRT54G routers have half the RAM and ROM as the old school ones. I bricked v2.2 several months ago and bought a new one, v8.0, after realizing the limitation of the memory and the ***** poor performance, I returned it and bought a used v2.x on ebay.

        There is a good thread on the DDWRT forum for the best performing routers. Most agree the Buffalo ones are pretty good if you can find them in the US.
      • LycoLoco, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1There are a few models of Buffalo Routers that actually already run DD-WRT and Tomato and they're sometimes easier to find.
      • CodedChaos, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1Main reason is because of Linksys' hardware revisions and firmware source changes. For example, if you were to go buy a new linksys at a local store, attempting to install DD-WRT will result in a lovely brick with optional blinking lights on the front.
  • thepulse, on 04/16/2008, -0/+19Can't wait to see what TSA will think of these :P Would love to try to devise a compact version for traveling! And props on the DefCon sticker :P
  • spankr, on 04/16/2008, -0/+9Very nice! Great to see DD-WRT, too!
  • Xios117, on 04/16/2008, -1/+6i-hacked has all kinds of useful stuff on it... check it out sometime. :)
  • CodedChaos, on 04/16/2008, -1/+15Next thing you know, all Starbucks and Hotels will have their wifi encrypted.
    • farleyro, on 04/16/2008, -6/+1This doesn't encrypt the source router, it encrypts your access point only. The data you send from your encrypted access point will still pass through the open access point, which will remain open.
      • CodedChaos, on 04/16/2008, -0/+3Good job! How many things did you have to look up to figure that out?
    • pyrates, on 04/16/2008, -3/+5If they encrypt it, how will anyone connect to it? Do you understand anything about wifi encryption?
      • CodedChaos, on 04/16/2008, -1/+2No, I am completely clueless.
        /sarcasm
        It was a joke, acquire a sense of humor and consider using it.
      • Xios117, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2Codey is a mod for i-hacked... he knows what he's talking about.
        Failure.
  • greggorievich, on 04/16/2008, -4/+2so fantastically awesome, and so is i-hacked !
  • CarStan, on 04/16/2008, -9/+2Please take a iSeat over there.
  • SPThom, on 04/16/2008, -0/+9Yeah, because that's something you'll pack in your carry-on when you're taking trips. Say hello to the TSA for me.
    • norcalscan, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2Why not? Are we guilty now just by what we carry in our carryons? Oh wait...
  • andrewtheart, on 04/16/2008, -7/+4I love the disclaimer, "*Note: It is illegal to use a wireless access point that you are not authorized to use.". More likely than not, you wouldn't need such far range access to a WiFi connection if you indeed legally authorized to use it - of course there are certain exceptions, but as a general rule this is just going to be exploited for such purposes.
    • shifty2, on 04/16/2008, -0/+7Because of this tutorial I was able to hook up a client of mine. They have a WAP in the main office and another on 150 yard down the road at a warehouse. I fabbed a directional attenna on both ends and setup wireless bridge mode. Works like a charm!
      • Xios117, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1Sweet action. :)
      • andrewtheart, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you're the exception. But awesome!!!
  • synyster, on 04/16/2008, -2/+5nice hack, but i wouldn't carry this thing around when i travelling :)
  • synyster, on 04/16/2008, -7/+1nice hacks, but i wouldn't carry this thing around when i travelling.
  • Acill, on 04/16/2008, -0/+3Love it, just the think I was looking for when I got to my grand parrents. Good sig if I go outside, but none in the house. Cant wait to put it all together!
  • thinboyslim, on 04/16/2008, -1/+2How to melt your brain in 5 easy steps....Firstly get a Predator,....
    • dougmc, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2Somehow I don't think 250 mW is going to melt your brain. Unless you're an ant.
  • takeo1775, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1probably would be more stable than my internet
  • quentinp, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2Does this add more gain then the FCC allows?
    • jm1234567890, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2yes, especially with that antenna, it is way more
  • LucidHawk, on 04/16/2008, -0/+4Will probably get you stopped at the airport..
  • saggygrandma, on 04/16/2008, -0/+3Just remember that the free wireless internet connection you scored from your neighbour could just be a trap to collect information from you (internet backing etc)
  • XistenZ, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1Here are some steps you can follow to add it to your existing dd-wrt build for those who don't want to use a 1.5 year old bin. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Autoap#Instal ...
  • pyry, on 04/16/2008, -0/+5And then when it can't find any open ones, just have it run aircrack-ng against the best WEP router with good signal strength! I mean, for educational purposes.
    • Calibur, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1blah... gather a couple encypt packets and run wep-attack with a good dict. Or in the case of WPA.. cowpatty. That way you dont make a bunch of noise on their AP. you know.. for your education :)
    • Xios117, on 04/16/2008, -0/+1Anything for science, right?
  • jrtcs, on 04/16/2008, -0/+20Great. I can see the NBC Dateline special now. "To Catch a Wi-Fi Predator".
    • surbo, on 04/16/2008, -0/+8They tried that last year at DEFCON 15 =) - They had to change the show to " To Catch a Under-Cover Reporter" 0wn3d
    • MadEnvoy, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2"Take a seat right over there, next to your predator device."
  • irright, on 04/16/2008, -3/+2Let's see. Buy a bunch of equipment AND haul it all over the place OR choose a hotel with free wifi? Hmmm.
    • shifty2, on 04/16/2008, -1/+5you're missing the underlying point...
      There are other practical applications than just grabbing wifi signals that you normally couldn't get AT a hotel.

      and plus, who said you had to have THAT type of antenna and "a bunch of equipment" antenna, router...
      sorry if that doesn't fit in YOUR PURSE!
  • smrekar, on 04/16/2008, -0/+2Question: Our Office is about .5 mi as the crow flies from our campus (up on a hill). Can I put this setup (bolted down) on the roof of our campus with a clear shot to our office and have a VPN without using our Soho3 firewalls? I can aim a yagi back at it with another wireless router.
    Dilemma - Cox Business Services charge 3 arms and 4 legs for their cable internet. We could bypass the whole cox thing if we just piggy backed on our office. With 802.11N and a couple of yagis would this be feasible?
  • LostChild, on 04/16/2008, -2/+1Or you could pay for your internet, y'know...whatever.
  • diggitygeek, on 04/16/2008, -0/+3Dugg for the skull and crossbones smiley face in the last picture.
  • hugejimmy, on 04/17/2008, -0/+1nice
  • WebLover1, on 04/20/2008, -0/+1Will gradually increase the awareness to level of security of wireless, ultimately not many will have unencrypted wireless connections
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