How to access any password-protected Wi-Fi Network using @TamoSoft CommView for WiFi

Necessity is the mother of invention

(Mater atrium necessitas)

Anon. Latin Proverb, which means Lindsworth Deer, who lived in Rome, said this first

After the nascent and gradually rising popularity of my Geezam blog article entitled “How to access any WEP or WPA/WPA2 Wi-Fi Network that has a password” on (like duh-uh!) accessing Password-protected WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) or stronger WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encrypted Wi-Fi Networks, my ratings in the ACCENT Marketing Cafeteria aka Roses Cantina has fairly skyrocketed.

Muted whispers of “there goes the Wi-Fi hacker” pass my way. Especially as I’ve now received training on the new AQUOS line of products from SHARP Corp of Japan, which certifies me to handle and troubleshoot their Wi-Fi Streaming Capable line of Smart TV come Monday 21 January 2013. Still I remain humble; AQUOS brand is spreading to smartphones and eventually Tablets, fodder for another article on SHARP.

But a little Indian femme fetale complained to me that my article is for “like, nerds” who are into Linux and Open Source. Surely, there must be some Windows based Software that can be used to access password protected WEP and WPA/WPA2 encrypted Wi-Fi Networks that won’t take the entire day in a process that’s as exciting as watching paint dry?

Turns out there is, actually. After some due diligence on my part and a tipoff from a FB Fan of my blog, I located such a software package: TamoSoft CommView for WiFi 6.3. This software package is actually a wireless network monitor and analyzer for 802.11 a/b/g/n networks used by Network Administrators to analyze their Wi-Fi Networks. Best of all, it’s Windows 7/XP Professional compatible, so you can reach for your mouse while using this nifty software tool.

TamoSoft CommView for WiFi 6.3 is Nirvana for Network Protocol geeks such as myself. It has the following uses that, again, mainly appeal to Network Administrators:

1.      Scan for Wi-Fi stations and access points.

2.      Capture 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n WLAN traffic.

3.      Specify WEP or WPA keys to decrypt encrypted packets.

4.      View detailed per-node and per-channel statistics.

5.      View detailed IP connections statistics: IP addresses, ports, sessions, etc.

6.      Reconstruct TCP sessions.

7.      Configure alarms that can notify you about important events, such as suspicious packets, high bandwidth, utilization, unknown addresses, rogue access points, etc.

I’ve been playing with this software and trust me it works. In fact the research on this article is being done using a Wi-Fi Network whose password I’d acquired from a nearby Router.

Again, as with the previous DIY (Do-It-yourself) Geezam blog article entitled “How to access any WEP or WPA/WPA2 Wi-Fi Network that has a password”, the following requirements should be on your checklist:

1.      USB Wi-Fi Adapter capable of packet injection (ask the Computer store tech!). The Alfa AWUS050NH USB Wi-Fi Adapter is best; buy it on Amazon.com with your Scotia VISA Debit Card. Tell ‘em it’s for Science Research

2.      Notepad and a Pen. Yes, you’ll have to take notes…again

3.      Desktop Computer with a CD-DVD Drive with at least 2GB RAM and 320GB Hard-Drive

4.      TamoSoft CommView for WiFi 6.3 which you can torrent or be a good sport and purchase it from TamoSoft’s Website for US$400 for the basic version or US$999 for the VoIP capable Version; you’ll get more professional support there.

5.      Your own WEP or WPA/WPA2-enabled Wi-Fi Network. That’s for a crash test dummy, in case you’re not up to hacking your neighbour’s Wi-Fi Network

6.      Target WEP or WPA/WPA2-enabled Wi-Fi Network. The signal should be strong with people connected and actively using the Wi-Fi Network, which increases the chances of accessing the Network. Also again, preferably a neighbor you don’t like

7.      Patience like Noah or Enoch in the Old Testament section of the Bible. It’s Windows 7/Windows XP Compatible folks; your mouse’ll get to run a few laps in the treadmill this time!

The steps for this DIY are straightforward and simple:

1.      Click on Tools then WEP Key Recovery. Make sure you have at least 500MB of free space as a typical sessions needs to samples at least 10,000 packets to get a lock on the Wi-Fi Network’s Password.

2.      After the session is complete, which may take a few seconds for 64 bit keys to several hours for 128-, 152-and 256-bit keys, select Tools then WEP Keys to view the password keys for the Wi-Fi Network analyzed.

3.      That’s it! You’ve now recovered the Password for the password protected WEP and WPA/WPA2 encrypted Wi-Fi Networks.

Use your knowledge wisely folks as you travel on the Information Superhighway!

Here’s the links:

TamoSoft CommView for WiFi 6.3 available on kickasstorrents

TamoSoft’s Website

List of USB Wi-Fi Adapter capable of packet injection

3M Roku Streaming Projector is the ultimate Mystery Machine for Parties and Corporate Show-and-Tell

This year, it’s hard to figure out what to buy yourself this Christmas. So many devices out there to choose, from smartphones to Tablets, with nary a fine dividing line on uniqueness to make ‘em stand out. Reviews help, but would you like to buy a device that’s truly the future of Entertainment as well as dressed to impress at that Management Meeting Presentation?

If you already a fan of Roku and 3M, might I suggest the US$300 3M Roku Streaming Projector as mentioned in the article “3M's handheld Streaming Projector is flat-out fun”, viewed 05-12-2012, CNET Reviews?

The Specs on the 3M Roku Streaming Projector are certain compelling. Once you pick up this product, you’ll realize instantly from its clean plastic finish and design that this is obviously a well thought out Tag-team of a product between 3M and Roku as noted in “3M Streaming Projector Powered by Roku Review”, published October 13, 2012 By Caleb Denison, DigitalTrends:

Design:

1.      2 Hour operation on Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for Wireless operation

2.      DLP Image Processor for uniform projected Pixel density

3.      60 Lumens Light source adjustable with Rotary Dial for Focus

4.      800 x 480 DVD Quality output

5.      120 inch Maximum projected image (best projection image at 11 feet that 100 inches diagonally)

6.      Built in Speakers

Connectors:

1.      DC power input

2.      3.5mm audio output jack for External Speakers

3.      HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)  and the very rare MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) Connectors

Accessories:

1.      Included Roku HDMI Streaming Stick

2.      Remote Control for an extra US$20

Diminutive in size, it’s a 2-hour Battery Life promises a box of portable Streaming fun and is that type of device that’ll make you exclaim “Why didn’t someone think of this before?”. Carry one of these to a House Party in Rural Clarendon that’s dying for some entertainment  or folks camping out at YS Falls sans Television and once you’ve got Wi-Fi you can stream content from the following, provided you’ve got an account of course:

1.      Netflix, now in Jamaica albeit the review by fellow blogger Ramone’s review on the Netflix for the Caribbean in “Netflix a NetJoke” isn’t that great

2.      Amazon Instant

3.      Hulu Plus

4.      MLB.TV

5.      Vudu

6.      HBO Go

7.      Any Source of Streamable content from a HDMI or MHL Compatible source

The first in the Pico Projector Class to include an accessory that useful outside of the Device, namely the Roku HDMI Streaming Stick, it’ll also connect to any Video Source i.e. Laptop or smartphone that can handle an HDMI or MHL compatible connector. Roku HDMI Streaming Stick, equally versatile, able to connect to any TV or Laptop that’ll support its connector type. 

At US$300 with a US$99 Roku HDMI Streaming Stick included, it’s truly a decent value for what’s effectively an all-in-one Gadget. For an extra US$20, you can’t be a Scrooge and not get the Gaming Remote Control; the control buttons buttons on the smoothly finished plastic are a grease magnet.

The only drawbacks with this product is that white’s not my favourite colour, as that’ll get dirty after a while after frequent handling. Also the Plastic door is easily breakable, making it necessary to pack this little portable funhouse in its own carry case. The Audio isn’t too great, necessitating that you pack it with some Bluetooth Speakers as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “Apple patents Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds as Wireless Bluetooth Speakers take Flight”.

But if you consider the takeaway, it’ll sparkle as a unique Christmas gift: you’re getting Pico Projector that not only great for the Great Outdoors but also a replacement for you TV if you’re into Netflix. Best of all, it’s decent enough to provide Corporate-styled Projection capability on the go for that classy presentation from your Laptop, smartphone or Tablet streamed over Wi-Fi or via HDMI or MHL connector……and look no wires! Truly, the 3M Roku Streaming Projector is the ultimate Mystery Machine for Parties and Corporate Show-and-Tell!

@Facebook gets Mission Impossible serious with Poke as the @Snapchat bringing “Sexting” back

“This is mainstream, this is normal, this is almost mundane for some of the people we spoke to”

Professor Andy Phippen from Plymouth University commenting on the joint study with NSPCC conducted for BBC Channel 4 into the phenomenon of Sexting

Looks like the Gloves are off as far as Facebook’s concerned. Facebook is getting serious about Mobile Computing as I’d predicted in my Geezam blog article entitled “How to add Emoticons to your Facebook posts”.

It seems that if you can’t beat ‘em, you gotta clone ‘em; thus Facebook upgraded Poke, that little used feature in Facebook to a full blown App called ….well….Poke as reported in the article “Facebook releases Snapchat competitor App called Poke”, published December 21, 2012 - 12:54PM PT By Eliza Kern, GigaOM. 

And yes (like duh-uh!!) it’s a clone of Snapchat, baby, as reported in the article “Facebook releases Poke, its Snapchat clone”, published December 21, 2012 December 21, 2012, by Molly Mchugh, DigitalTrends which they launched on Friday December 22^nd 2012!

Snapchat…what? Which Social Network’s that?

No worry; if you’ve never heard of Snapchat; few people in Jamaica without a real smartphone with their noses stuck in a Blackberry and banging away at BB Messenger have. However, as Jamaicans begin to fall in love with smartphones and their much improved higher resolution Cameras and Video Shooting capabilities as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Apple iPhone boosts Jamaican smartphone usage as BB goes Chapter 11 Bankruptcy”, Snapchat’s notoriety grows on you like a Cannabis plant!

As Snapchat’s popularity catches on outside of the continental US of A, it may mark the return of Safe Sexting (no pun intended)…if there’s such a thing.

Yes, while Jamaicans and to a great extent Americans fritted away their time on their Desktop Computers and Laptops with Facebook, Twitter, which were born in the Desktop era and the other competing Social Networks, most of which were born Mobile, another little Kingdom was rising built on the premise of Safe Sexting.

For the uninitiated who never owned a Camera phone back in early first Decade of the 21^st Century, Camera phones gave rise to the phenomenon of Sexting; Millennials [ages 18 to 28] sent lurid, revealing and very unflattering picture of themselves taken with camera phones, often with dire consequences if the recipient was a pervert.

Among Millennials, Sexting is almost passé it seems; not uncommon either for adolescents to have seen a girl’s breasts and other body parts before ever seeing their face as indicated in the article “Snapchat fends off Facebook despite video glitch”, published 02 Jan 2013 10:07AM GMT By Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor, The UK Telegraph.

The problem back then was that once pictures were sent, they cannot be retrieved or deleted on the recipient’s phone, making the recipient capable of doing damage to your fragile High School or College reputation using one’s image of your less-than-flattering nude doppelganger.

Snapchat’s hugely popular App, which is 4^th on Apple iTunes 100 Chart, popped up on the Mobile Social Networking Radar back in May 2012, neatly solves that problem; pics can be set to “self-destruct” Mission Impossible style as noted in the article “Snapchat auto-delete sexts seconds after they’ve been viewed”, published May 8, 2012 by NattGarun, DigitalTrends.

Should you choose to Accept this Mission…er…I mean Snapchat’s App Terms of Usage as suggested in the article “Terms & Conditions: Snapchat’s privacy policy has too many secrets”, published December 16, 2012 By Andrew Couts, DigitalTrends, on your smartphone, Millennials [ages 18-28] can safely begin re-living your “sexting” fantasies.

This setting a preset period of time ranging for 1 to 10 seconds as reported in the article “What’s so special (and so dangerous) about Snapchat”, published December 14, 2012 By Kate Knibbs, DigitalTrends for those provocative pictures worth a thousand words and stares to disappear.

True, screen capture Apps can be used to capture you private emotions expressed in the picture and preserve it for further viewing among fellow perverts. The first failsafe is that the pics are deleted off both the sender’s and the recipient’s phones – unless you the sender decide to save the picture sent on your phone permanently, usually not a good idea. Snapchat already has a feature that notifies the sender if their naughty snaps have been copied.

But fret not.

The screen capture feature in most smartphones can be easily thwarted via the App disabling the screensaver feature on the smartphones, if Snapchat chooses to make this upgrade. If your recipient is no longer in your circle of trust and Snapchat reports that he’s using Screen-capture software to have a permanent reminder of you nude copse cadaver, you may soon be able to remotely delete that which can do Social Damage straight off the person’s phone.

Making only the most tech-savvy geek the only persons capable of raining on your Sexting parade! It’s the instantaneous fleeting pleasure of sending any picture without consequence that’s the catch here folks; users seem to agree, sending some twenty million (20,000,000) snaps per day, an average of about 232 pictures per second as clocked in the article “Facebook to Launch Its Own Snapchat Competitor App”, published December 16, 2012 at 10:57 pm PT by Mike Isaac, AllThingsDigital!

Snapchat has also launched a similar feature for self-destructing 10-second “Sexting” Videos. Traffic as of writing this article now stands at fifty million (50,000,000) pictures per day…with no end in sight as to its phenomenal rise as tallied in the article “Snapchat’s adding video, so sext me, maybe?”, published Dec 14, 2012 - 10:07AM PT By Eliza Kern, GigaOM.

Definitely cause for Facebook to worry and hence explains why they decided to launch a standalone App on Friday December 22^nd 2012 despite already having native Apps for Google Android and deep integration into iOS 6.0 on the Apple iPhone 5 as reported in the article “Apple’s iOS 6 Includes Deep FaceBook Integration”, published June 11, 2012 by Sarah Kessler, Mashable and reported in the article “Apple kicks Google Maps off iPhone, adds FaceBook”, published Wednesday, June 13, 2012, The Jamaica Observer.

Still, it’s not without danger, as tests by BuzzFeed FWD indicate that it’s possible to retrieve the videos by just simply connecting a Laptop of PC via an external Cable to your Apple iPhone or Google Android smartphone.

Then using a file Manager Program such iFunBox or even a computer Running Ubuntu or Fedora, any hidden photo or video files in the area where Snapchat temporarily stores its videos and pictures as surmised in the article “Turns out Snapchat, Poke videos don't actually disappear”, published December 28, 2012 6:39 AM PST by Lance Whitney, CNET News can be easily located and retrieved.

BuzzFeed FWD found that the bug in Snapchat was as such that the pics were indeed kaput after 10 seconds but apparently the detonator (cheeky devil ain’t I?) for the videos failed to go off, so to speak , and self-destruct, making them easily recoverable long after the 10 seconds had passed. To this, the Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel responded to Buzzfeed, quote: “there will always be a way to reverse engineer technology products”. A fix is in the works, preferably as suggested above in this article.

Numbers like that got Big Blue…that’s Facebook….worried, as it appears they just wasted US$700 million acquiring Instagram that’s barely clocking 5 million images uploaded per day. Instagram’s trying to monetize images as reported in the article “Don't blame Instagram users - blame Instagram”, published December 19, 2012 2:14 PM PST by Casey Newton, CNET News via a change in its Terms of Usage Policy.

This got the attention of Reality Star and Instagram’s biggest user Kim Kardashian, who was so upset with them that she made the veiled threat of deleting her account as reported in the article “Kim Kardashian: Instagram's No. 1 enemy?”, published December 21, 2012 7:02 AM PST by Chris Matyszczyk, CNET News.

Meanwhile upstart Snapchat’s making a mockery of FB’s business model by allowing people to send images and videos that’re only temporarily stored on their Servers only to wind up self-destructing on a recipient’s phone, even copping US$8 million in Venture Capital funds from the very same company that fuelled Instagram’s rise from obscurity. Folks, Irony defined!

Thus predictions of FB launching competitors to Snapchat as stated in the article “Facebook expected to release a sexy Snapchat clone”, published December 17, 2012 By Francis Bea, DigitalTrends were really inevitable. Facebook’s barely got a presence on smartphones and Tablets. Many of these new Social Networks are born in the Mobile Computing world, an area of potential growth for the now Stock Market traded Facebook.

Same reasoning can be applied to explain why Facebook had launched a Messenger to compete with WhatsApp as reported in the article “Will Facebook Make Snapchat And WhatsApp History? Maybe Not”, published 12/21/2012 @ 8:24PM by Parmy Olson, Forbes Staff; Mobile Computing on smartphones and Tablet’s where the action’s at.

So far FB’s failing!

After Poke’s launch on Friday December 22^nd 2012, it has failed to gain traction with the Mobile masses, dropping completely off the radar of the Apple iTunes Top 100 apps and failed in spectacular fashion as reported in “Everyone Is Talking About Facebook's Massive Flop”, published Dec. 27, 2012, 12:15 PM by Nicholas Carlson, Business Insider

Not surprising at all; in order to join Poke, you have to allow the Poke App access to your Friends list! NOT a good idea given FB’s poor track record with Privacy. Non too crazy about people seeing private snaps and 10 second videos that may linger around forever and ruin your job prospects for life

Nobody’s gonna forgive FB for its past privacy slip-ups and trust FB with their very intimate spur-of-the-moment pictures that may wind up being seen by their FB peeps….or worse their boss!

If FB’s serious about Poke (and I doubt that they are anyway….) they have to radically improve Privacy on Facebook by simply allowing smartphone and Tablet users to make random friends. Frictionless sharing isn’t how humans are socialized in real life; we hold back really private sensitive stuff as it does hurt when it’s known.

Rather than draw your friends list from FB, a crucial mistake, they need to allow persons to make their own friends in the Mobile phone world all over again. After all it’s a new medium; why keep the same old Friends from FB?

The intimate nature of Sexting suggests a prelude to sex, a process similar to Inboxing on FB as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “Social Network Prostitution: FOMO drives Millennials to “Inboxing””.

With something so intimate as a photo of one’s self that should only be seen when you in the bedroom, a Privacy-snafu FB and their sexting app Poke not to be trusted; Snapchat’s gonna be King of Sexting for a long time as they’re  bringing “Sexting” back.

Only time’ll tell if this’ll work to FB’s advantage or if FB’s genuinely interested at all. This as FB appears to be grasping for straws as they ride on the rising popularity of competitor Snapchat with their take on Sexting in an App named Poke.