What is a War Driver?
In the world of wireless networking, a War Driver is an individual who actively searches for and maps Wi-Fi networks in a specific geographic area. War driving is a technique used to detect and identify Wi-Fi networks, which can be useful for a variety of purposes, including network security, research, and marketing.
What does a War Driver do?
A War Driver typically uses a laptop or other mobile device equipped with a wireless network card and software designed to detect and analyze Wi-Fi networks. They drive around a designated area, such as a city or town, and use their device to scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks.
Here are some of the key tasks a War Driver performs:
• Detection: The War Driver uses their device to detect and identify nearby Wi-Fi networks.
• Analysis: They analyze the detected networks to gather information such as network name (SSID), IP address, channel, encryption type, and signal strength.
• Mapping: The War Driver creates a map of the detected networks, which can be used to visualize the density and distribution of Wi-Fi networks in the area.
Types of War Drivers
There are several types of War Drivers, each with their own motivations and goals:
• Recreational War Drivers: These individuals enjoy the thrill of the hunt and the challenge of finding and mapping Wi-Fi networks.
• Research War Drivers: These War Drivers use their skills to gather data for research purposes, such as studying Wi-Fi network usage patterns or analyzing network security.
• Security War Drivers: These War Drivers use their skills to identify vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi networks and help organizations improve their network security.
• Marketing War Drivers: These War Drivers use their skills to identify potential customers for their employer’s products or services.
War Driving Tools
War Drivers use a variety of tools to detect and analyze Wi-Fi networks. Some of the most popular tools include:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Kismet | A popular open-source tool for detecting and analyzing Wi-Fi networks. |
| NetStumbler | A popular Windows-based tool for detecting and analyzing Wi-Fi networks. |
| WiFite | A tool for detecting and analyzing Wi-Fi networks, with a focus on finding vulnerable networks. |
| CommView | A tool for detecting and analyzing Wi-Fi networks, with a focus on network traffic analysis. |
War Driving Techniques
War Drivers use a variety of techniques to detect and analyze Wi-Fi networks. Some of the most effective techniques include:
• Passive Scanning: War Drivers use their device to passively scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, without actively trying to connect to them.
• Active Scanning: War Drivers use their device to actively scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, by sending out probe requests to detect available networks.
• Geolocation: War Drivers use their device’s GPS capabilities to determine their location and map detected networks to specific geographic locations.
Ethical Considerations
War Driving raises several ethical considerations, including:
• Privacy: War Drivers may inadvertently gather sensitive information about individuals or organizations using Wi-Fi networks.
• Security: War Drivers may inadvertently exploit vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi networks, which could compromise network security.
• Intellectual Property: War Drivers may inadvertently gather information about trade secrets or other proprietary information.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a War Driver is an individual who actively searches for and maps Wi-Fi networks in a specific geographic area. War driving is a technique used to detect and identify Wi-Fi networks, which can be useful for a variety of purposes, including network security, research, and marketing. While war driving raises several ethical considerations, it can also be a valuable tool for improving network security and understanding Wi-Fi network usage patterns.
