{"id":35897,"date":"2014-06-23T06:00:14","date_gmt":"2014-06-23T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.mcafee.com\/?p=35897"},"modified":"2025-08-17T22:48:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T05:48:41","slug":"wardriving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/wardriving\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Wardriving?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wireless networks have certainly brought a lot of convenience to our lives, allowing us to work and surf from almost anywhere\u2014home, cafes, airports and hotels around the globe. But unfortunately, wireless connectivity has also brought convenience to hackers because it gives them the opportunity to capture all data we type into our connected computers and devices through the air, and even take control of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

While it may sound odd to worry about bad guys snatching our personal information from what seems to be thin air, it\u2019s more common than we\u2019d like to believe. In fact, there are hackers who drive around searching for unsecured wireless connections (networks) using a wireless laptop and portable global positioning system (GPS) with the sole purpose of stealing your information or using your network to perform bad deeds.<\/p>\n

We call the act of cruising for unsecured wireless networks \u201cwar driving,\u201d and it can cause some serious trouble for you if you haven\u2019t taken steps to safeguard your home or small office networks.<\/p>\n

Hackers that use this technique to access data from your computer\u2014banking and personal information\u2014that could lead to identity theft, financial loss, or even a criminal record (if they use your network for nefarious purposes). Any computer or mobile device that is connected to your unprotected network could be accessible to the hacker.<\/p>\n

While these are scary scenarios, the good news is that there are ways to prevent \u201cwar drivers\u201d from gaining access to your wireless network. Be sure to check your wireless router owner\u2019s manual for instructions on how to properly enable and configure these tips.<\/p>\n