Closed wireless devices a security threat – forskning.se

– Wireless routers are a major security threat. Most routers contain software which is four to five years old already at the time of purchase, and many are full of security holes. It is worrying because an increasing proportion of network traffic goes through routers, which can intercept traffic, spreading viruses or even initiate their own cyber attacks, says Anna Brunstrom, professor of computer science at Karlstad University.

The question of wireless devices such as routers is current right now since both the EU and the US agree to revise the requirements that products classified as radio equipment must meet to be sold. The argument for the framework is that it wants to prevent the radio signals interfere with each other, by not allowing changes in the software and thus close the unit.

The problem is that if units are shut, the owner of a unit is no longer install new software to frequent security or better performance. It will not be possible for scientists to experiment for new and better solutions.

– We are seeing more and more examples of the problems of closed units where it is not possible to access the software, says Toke Høiland -Jørgensen, a doctoral student in computer science at Karlstad University.

– One example is the problem of security, but we also want to use these devices in our research, which is impossible if they are closed, then we can not even verify that they are functioning should. Safety and performance in the Future Internet Research in recent years has proved increasingly clear that the ability to install open source software, primarily WiFi equipment is the only way to secure not only the opportunity for further development and research, but also the safety and performance of tomorrow’s Internet. It is also central to reducing the amount of electronic waste as software upgrades extends hardware life.

Researchers at the Computer Science at Karlstad University have therefore, together with more than 260 Internet experts worldwide chosen to take part in an international campaign that seeks to influence the design of the acquis to the current problems of wireless devices can be solved . Karlstad University has also decided to send in a consultation response to the government regarding the implementation of radio equipment directive (N2015 / 5144 / ITP).

The overarching tool that campaign wants to highlight is simply: openness. The campaign advocates that the new framework should require that the software is made available to independent inspection before the equipment can be approved for sale. Another requirement is that the producer guarantees that updating the equipment in accordance with current practices for software, primarily for security updates.

– by requiring producers of wireless devices meets these rather simple requirements, we could improve both the security and performance of all our network significantly, says Toke Høiland-Jørgensen.

Campaign
The campaign was started by Dave Täht (now employed at Karlstad University) along with Vint Cerf, co-inventor of the Internet, and has been driven in project Bufferbloat.ne > t.