The Register®

Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/03/wi-fi_aerial_gun/

Wi-Fi 'sniper rifle' debuts at DEFCON

Putting the war back into war driving

By John Leyden

Posted in Bootnotes, 3rd August 2004 11:43 GMT

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Conventional Wi-Fi aerials are all well and good but they don't really cut it if you want to impress fellow hackers and scare the general populace.

Forget a modified Pringles can - what you really need at somewhere like last weekend's DEFCON shindig is something that looks like an M-16 but with its firing mechanism replaced by a 14.6 dBi Yagi antenna [1] that can get you online at up to 10 miles (16.1 km).

Yes indeed. Adapt this so that it fits into a briefcase and what you have is Day of the Jackal [2] -style foldaway technology plus access to remote, insecure Wi-Fi networks. A must for every would-be Jason Bourne [3].

Perfectly pitched towards the geekier members of the Michigan Militia, we doubt the US Secret Service would be as enthusiastic though - especially if they're on presidential protection duties at the time.

As a spotter from website engadget notes [4] the Sniper Yagi is as "likely to get you thrown in jail as logged onto a WiFi network", but if you're serious about putting the war back into war driving [5] that's surely only a minor consideration. ®

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US wardriver pleads guilty to Wi-Fi hacks [6]
Ethical wireless hacker is innocent [7]
London Wi-Fi security better (but still not great) [8]
Of mad snipers and cyber- terrorists [9]
No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die [10]