Unique Space Invaders Exhibit Unveils Wireless Network Details
In the early 2000s, a practice known as wardriving emerged, where individuals documented and used open wireless networks while driving. This era-defining activity, however, has diminished with the rise of mobile broadband and WPA encryption. Yet, the spirit of wardriving lives on, as demonstrated by the Silly Space Invaders Dashboard (SSID), a unique Wi-Fi strength monitor built by the innovative maker, [arduinocelentano].
The SSID is a nod to the classic arcade game, Space Invaders, with each Wi-Fi network grouped into a few classes based on signal strength and assigned a corresponding Space Invaders-themed sprite. The strongest ranked Wi-Fi networks are at the top for quick and easy viewing. The SSID also makes a record of all the Wi-Fi networks it discovers.
[Arduinocelentano]'s creation, while reminiscent of wardriving hardware, has a unique twist. The SSID uses an ESP8266 to periodically scan for Wi-Fi networks. However, the specific purpose or functionality of the SSID remains undisclosed. Similarly, the unique theme of the SSID is not specified in the text.
Despite the decline of wardriving, there are still individuals poking around unsecured networks. Wardriving hardware, while not as prevalent as it once was, still serves a purpose in 2022. The main current use cases for wardriving hardware involve scanning, detecting, and mapping Wi-Fi networks to identify unsecured or weakly secured wireless access points.
While some use wardriving tools for cybersecurity research or network auditing, others may exploit these findings to gain unauthorized access and intercept data on poorly protected networks, especially those using outdated encryption like WEP. Wardriving hardware and related tools are also used in emerging areas such as indoor localization without GPS, Wi-Fi auditing, and network penetration testing, expanding the technical capabilities beyond mere detection of access points.
It's important to note that the company that owns the rights to the original Space Invaders does not allow others to play with their toys, so the Invaders in the SSID do not look like the baddies from the past due to rights restrictions.
In conclusion, the Silly Space Invaders Dashboard is a modern take on wardriving hardware, offering a fun and engaging way to monitor Wi-Fi strength. While the practice of wardriving has diminished, the need for network security auditing and vulnerability mapping remains, with evolving applications extending into sophisticated network security testing and indoor positioning systems.
[1] Wardriving and its Use Cases in 2022: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341268751_Wardriving_and_its_Use_Cases_in_2022 [2] Compact Wardriving Platforms Using Raspberry Pi: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=250784
- The Silly Space Invaders Dashboard, created by Arduinocelentano, is a modern adaptation of the wardriving hardware concept, using technology like ESP8266 to scan for Wi-Fi networks.
- In contrast to traditional wardriving activities, which have declined with the advent of mobile broadband and WPA encryption, the SSID focuses on monitoring Wi-Fi strength, categorizing networks based on signal strength, and recording all discovered networks.
