British Researchers Create a Computer Virus That Spreads Through Wi-Fi Networks

British researchers have created a computer virus, called Chameleon, that they claim is the first virus that can spread just like a common cold virus that affects the humans.

I saw this story published on CNET which reports that according to the researchers “Chameleon can spread through densely populated areas like the common cold, the University of Liverpool researchers claim, by hopping from network to network via access points, spreading rapidly among homes and businesses. If as that wasn’t bad enough, the virus can avoid detection and identify weak wireless access points — those that are least protected by encryption and passwords.”

The news story quotes a professor of network security at University of Liverpool who said that it was assumed that it wasn’t possible to develop a virus that could attack Wi-Fi networks. I am not sure who assumed that it wasn’t possible because I think most security experts expected this to happen. That is not to say that the University of Liverpool shouldn’t get full credit for this. Of course, they should. The report says “It was able to remain hidden because current antivirus programs look for viruses on the Internet and in computers, and Chameleon stayed on the Wi-Fi network, moving past protected access points to find those that weren’t password-protected, such as public Wi-Fi access points at airports and coffee shops.”

Should you be worried? Check out the entire story on CNET.