Chipmaker says driver flaws could leave top-selling WiFi chipsets open to airborne attacks

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

August 2, 2006

1 Min Read

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) has revealed security flaws in its Centrino WiFi chipset that could potentially affect many users that are running the silicon in their laptops.

The chipmaker has warned users to update their drivers after it revealed that Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) drivers for its top-selling chipset could potentially allow hackers to wirelessly spread worms and viruses between machines.

"An attacker could potentially exploit these vulnerabilities which could potentially lead to remote code execution and system control," says Intel in a security update on its Website.

Intel has updates for the drivers on its Website. The chipmaker, however, is suggesting that worried users should contact the manufacturers of their laptops for device-specific updates.

Intel has sold over $5 billion of the WiFi chipsets since the line was first launched in March 2003. (See Centrino: Building the Brand.)

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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