TalkTalk security expert exposes P2P alternatives

In an effort to shed some light on WiFi safety and the dangers of WiFi hacking Matt Roburgh, a security expert working on behalf of internet service provider TalkTalk, has spoken out on the practicalities of network security to Channel 4 News.

Rather than patronise users on their own security slip-ups, expert Roburgh was happy enough to admit he too had been a victim of WiFi hacking, despite taking care to protect WiFi connections with passwords.

The Channel 4 news clip, available to view below, shows off the makeshift "Cantenna" device used by WiFi hackers to steal customer’s connections.

Roburgh explained the limitations of WiFi security and used this as an opportunity to suggest, if the Government goes ahead with its “three strikes” anti-piracy measures they could, quite feasibly, end up cutting off the wrong people. “You will cut of the people that are technology unsavy,” warned Roburgh. “The people that know what they’re doing will be able to use other people’s WiFi, open WiFi, WiFi hotspot stores.”

The news clip also took some time to explain the new methods downloaders are using to source copyright material. Although the Government is concentrating on peer-to-peer use as it works towards combating online piracy, Roburgh used the news item to expose dedicated ripping sites, which make it impossible for internet service providers to track copyright infringement - methods which could put a spanner in the works for the Government's anti-piracy tactics.

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