Recently I was just introduced to single use credit cards, apparently they’ve been around for sometime but they are new to me. A single use credit card can be used for online purchases where you are unsure as to the integrity of the website. Rather then repeating the information on these sites I’ll just send you over.

Citibank Virtual Account
http://www.citibank.com/us/cards/tour/cb/shp_van.htm

MBNA ShopSafe
https://www.mbnanetaccess.com

Here I am on a Sunday afternoon sitting in a local coffee shop enjoying a mocha while I wait for my oversized comforter to dry in the local laundry mat. I have Mac laptop with me, it jumps on the free coffee shop wireless access point and I’m on the net.

Out of curiosity I view my local network and behold I see a computer called REGISTER. With just a basic knowledge of Windows authentication I click on the REGISTER and log in with the username ADMINISTRATOR and I leave the password blank. Boom, access to the local cash register with all the credit card data a hacker or ID thief would enjoy.

I understand that the vast majority of people are clueless when it comes to setting up wireless networks, so I ask myself… “do I talk to the manager? The owner?” And then I wonder about the legal ramifications.

I feel it is my duty to tell someone how to fix the security hole but with the general lack of understanding over wireless networks will the person I tell misunderstand my goodwill and consider me a hacker, trying to steal their data?

I’m sure I’m not the only one out there who has faced this dilemma.