Anyone remember WEP, the original encryption scheme for WiFi?

[ozzelot@mstdn.social]

@ryanc
Given how wiretappable the hubs of the day were, perhaps the meaning held some truth.

[grantpe@tech.lgbt]

@ryanc well, it was equivalent, if you left your network cables lying in the parking lot.

[benaveling@mastodon.ie]

Correct. WEP meant: as secure as if someone had access to the physical wires you were using. i.e. not very. @ozzelot @ryanc

[qbitzerre@social.from.net]

@ryanc or a reflection of our presumptions about the general security of unencrypted communication using wires.

[witewulf@cyberplace.social]

@ryanc see also: WAP (not wireless access point, or whatever Cardi B was referring to )

It was also bloody useless

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Application_Protocol

[aris@infosec.exchange]

@ryanc They should have called it ALWT: "At least we tried"

[david_chisnall@infosec.exchange]

@ryanc Given some of the newer tempest-style attacks, it might have been quite accurate naming.

[fcbsd@hachyderm.io]

@ryanc in the good 'ole days wired networks gave away all their secrets :~)

[dalias@hachyderm.io]

@ryanc I think the hilarious part is how accurate it is - and that so many ppl somehow treat a wired network as trusted.

[resuna@ohai.social]

@ryanc I always got it confused with WAP.

[raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie]

@ryanc
We Enjoy Piracy?

[mark_f_lynch@mastodon.ie]

@WiteWulf @ryanc Oi! I had my first job in tech as a support engineer for a WAP gateway, I'll have you know TBF it was of its time, given the capabilities of mobile phones in those days, but it did work OK...

[tyzbit@toot.now]

@ryanc WEP design philosophy:

we scrumbled the packets what more do you WANT from us

[oscherler@tooting.ch]

@ryanc Well, wired privacy is nonexistent if people tap on the wires. It’s private because you don’t give people access to your home’s wiring. Same goes for WiFi: just don’t give people access to the space covered by your antenna.

[ryanc@infosec.exchange]

@david_chisnall Indeed.

[401matthall@mastodon.xyz]

@ryanc

I 'member.

I did _not_ know the acronym's meaning however. That's fascinating.

WEP was what you used to demo brute-forcing to people who didn't know anything about security. It was _great_.