A computer virus that can be spread through the air

This virus was like a virus in the air traveling through the wireless network via access points.

Researchers at Liverpool University have shown for the first time that wireless networks can be infected with a virus and it can move through densely populated areas as efficiently as a common cold is spread between humans.

For this work , which has been published in Journal on Information Security , the team designed and simulated an attack by a virus , called " Chameleon " , and proved that not only could spread rapidly among households and businesses, but was able to avoid detection and to identify the points where the wifi is less protected by encryption and passwords.

The study was tested in Belfast and London in a laboratory setting and found that Chameleon resembled a virus in the air, traveling through the wireless network via access points ( APs) that connects households and undertakings to wifi networks.

The areas that are more densely populated with more and more access points next to each other , which meant that the virus spreads more rapidly, particularly through networks that can be connected within 10 to 50 meters.

One of the authors , Alan Marshall , explained that " when Chameleon attacks an AP , does not affect its operation, but is able to gather and communicate user credentials wifi that connected to it." " The virus then sought other wifi access points that could connect to and infect " he added . Finally , Chameleon was able to avoid being captured by the virus detection systems that are present on the internet or computers.

"Although many access points are sufficiently encrypted and password protected , the virus simply went ahead to find those who were not heavily protected points including free wifi in public places like coffee shops and airports," the authors note .

As explained , the wifi connections are increasingly a target for hackers because of security vulnerabilities that exist . "However , it was assumed that it was not possible to develop a virus that could attack the wifi networks , but we have shown that this is possible and can spread rapidly ," concluded Marshall.