How WiFi or Wireless Internet Can Be Exploited by Criminals Anonymously

WiFi or rather known as wireless Internet connection is gaining popularity among the community. Anyone with a computer equipped with a wireless card can access public hotspots. With a high number of hotspots available in the United States, there are in fact thousands of people logging in everyday to check their email or simply surfing the Internet in cafes, hotels, airports and even in the park! Furthermore, many of these hotspots are available for free.

Criminals are taking advantage of the anonymity offered by the wireless Internet connections. Picture this - anyone in the park with a laptop equipped with WiFi can access the wireless network. It would be hard or near impossible for authorities to pinpoint the exact location of the culprit. Even with state-of-the-art technology being used, it will consume time and by then, the culprit has already escaped.

In the age of portability and with the price of laptops decreasing year by year, it is easy to get your hands on the necessary hardware to access the WiFi network. For amateur computer users, many might not even notice a security loophole in their network. Anyone with a WiFi enabled laptop can scan the area for unsecured networks and log in to those that are not password protected. I know this because I have friends who lived nearby that secretly tap into his neighbor's WiFi network. Although it is against the law, his activities remained discreet and undetected.

Although there are ample cyber laws implemented in nearly every state, it is pretty hard to nab a mobile criminal. Popular crimes that can be committed wirelessly are sex crimes, eavesdropping or snooping on another person's files, and of course non other than commercial crimes.

Cybercops are needed to patrol the cyberspace. Although it might not be as effective as a real police but the presence of authority might lower crime rates. One of the methods to pinpoint the location of a criminal is through the Internet Protocol or IP assigned to the computer whenever it is logged on to the network.