Networking / Beginners

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Commercial Security Infrastructure

Many commercial companies have implemented wireless devices that permit stores to establish additional point-of-sale machines quickly when they add more departmental locations.

Wi-Fi devices are very convenient and allow these devices to work quickly without the expense of adding additional wiring to link them. However, the problem is that these devices transmit credit card numbers over the wireless network. Many of these systems were instituted without any encryption schemes; those that were used the lower 40-bit encryption scheme. Many hackers were able to intercept and eavesdrop on these signals to pick up the credit card numbers and exploit them for fraud.

Other commercial stores use wireless video cameras that transmit images over either the 2.4 GHz spectrum or a short-range wireless network so that the managers can keep tabs on all the unsecured areas of the store to prevent shoplifting. Unfortunately, hackers found this out and were able to tap into these systems to determine when store aisles were vacant so that they could direct their cohorts in stealing items from the store.

When it became clear that wireless point-of-sale machines and cameras actually were more of a security risk than a benefit, these types of wireless devices were discontinued in many areas, but not all. Hackers are eager to search for companies that still use wireless cash registers and cameras; they can then turn these items against the stores that implemented them.