Wi-Fi virus that spreads like common cold

Researchers have shown for the first time that Wi-Fi networks can be infected with an 'airborne' virus that can move as efficiently as the common cold.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool in UK designed and simulated an attack by a virus, called "Chameleon" on Belfast and London in a lab setting . They found that not only could it spread quickly between homes and businesses, but it was able to avoid detection.

Experts found that "Chameleon" behaved like an airborne virus, travelling across the Wi-Fi network via Access Points (APs) that connect households and businesses to WiFi networks. "When "Chameleon" attacked an AP, it was able to collect and report the credentials of all other Wi-Fi users who connected to it. The virus then sought out other Wi-Fi APs that it could connect to and infect," said Alan Marshall, professor of Network Security at the University.