I built this Prototype Wifi “WarDriving” Van in 2001 & 2002 - the only one of it’s kind (still holds true in 2006) to be used in corporate demonstrations to enhance security for the emerging WiFi market. At this time, most WiFi (WLAN) networks were not secured, or if so, only by the means of weak 64/128 bit WEP keys (which still holds largely true in 2006).

In support of Melior’s Internet & Infrastructure Services business (prior to the much greater threat of Denial-of-Service attacks), this van was be able to capture WiFi data within a 1.5 mile range, crunch some of the captured data with the on-board computer systems (in “stealth” mode, due to the large power inverter and AGM batteries in the back, allowing to power the on-board systems without having to start the engine and draw attention), or transmit captured data for decryption at the home office via the Cray and cluster computer systems.

The use of the Cray and clusters (see pictures below) was intended to accelerate the decryption process, to decipher 1,024 bit keys during business meetings with potential clients, and present them with the clear key at the end of the meeting, thus delivering a much stronger message to enhance security measures.

Since this was a service offer to clients, the van was clearly marked (even at DefCon in Las Vegas...).

Equipped with a Police Scanner as an ‘early warning system’ (simulating the approach of the “bad guys”), special alternator to feed the 2,500 watt / 130 AMP power Inverter with 4 AGM batteries, high-load-bearing tires with 2 spares, special WiFi high-range booster antennae, and many other “specialty” gear, this prototype van performed many WiFi network security demonstrations in downtown Dallas, along the I-75 corridor from Plano to downtown Dallas, on an 8-mile distance scan across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (from the Marin Highlands targeting the downtown San Francisco financial district), at a Las Vegas - based DEFCON conference, as well as a Melior-sponsored exhibition and conference on WiFi at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Spring 2002.

With the dDoS “DNS root server” attacks on October 21st and 22nd, 2002, which almost took out the entire global Internet, the focus to develop an effective defense against distributed Denial-of-Service attacks took precedence over pursuing WiFi Security services, and the van, the Cray, and related systems were retired.

Small Update 2009:

stumbled over the links of my Cray after it was sold in 2003 along with the little SSP boot computer and the 3 Sun 1000 & 2000 Systems to Portland, Oregon:

• Arrival in Portland (as far as I recall, this is an old ‘nuclear-impact-safe’ basement from the 50’s
• Initial boot-up using the (extremely rare) SSP boot system (not a regular Sun IPC/IPX!!)

I took liberty to add the Portland pictures to the album below (one never knows if and where those pictures remain available on the net).

Additional links:

• The Cray CS 6400 was the precursor of the SUN ENTERPRISE 10000
  (a bunch of whose ran eBay for a while)
• Wikipedia Entry for the CS6400
  (nice touch that *my* Cray is used for most of the media / picture documentation)
• Cray CS6400 running

© Copyright 1987/1994 - 2014 Thomas J. Ackermann

“Perfectionists At Work.” is a Registered Trademark - USPTO No 2,947,825

Compiled at: RLC Centre Ops Ordi & Logiciel II, Genève, CH