I Love Free WiFi

I have both a wireless network and a wired one. The wired one is connected to my internet as well as all the other computers in the house. (5) My wireless network only connects to my MediaCenter computer and transmits a signal for my MediaCenter extender (in my bedroom), to pick up. I'm afraid if you were to tap into my wifi you'd have no internet access and be forced to watch my movies, listen to my music, and look at my pictures.

The number of idiots out there running WiFi without any sort of encryption or other restrictions that would keep freeloaders from using them is just plain scary.

UBoB, if you are not using some sort of encryption and/or MAC address filtering, MasonM or anyone else that wanted to could still piggyback on your network for free. While he might not (and probably wouldn't) get access to your systems, he would be able to go surfing the net for just about anything he wanted to, including kiddie pr0n, or anything else (not that he's inclined to do that, just that it would be possible). (Edited to note UBoB's comments about his wireless network not being able to access the internet -- that is a good thing, but better still is using WEP or WPA and even better still is using some sort of hardware address filtering -- MAC address filtering -- to prevent unauthorized access).

So many people buy and/or hook up wireless equipment any more and very few really take the time to enable any sort of protection/restrictions. When the FBI comes knocking wondering why you've been cruising certain sites, or have downloaded articles on bomb making and such you can truly claim ignorance, but they'll spend hours going over your systems with a fine tooth comb because you were running your router open to the world.

It doesn't surprise me that MasonM was easily able to find such a system out there, like I said there are tons of them. And I am not accusing MasonM of doing anything untoward on the systems he is accessing the net from, but if people did things right the only free WiFi would be city provided, or perhaps libraries or locations like that. You wouldn't find it anywhere that didn't intend to provide it for you.

Meanwhile, MasonM, have fun and be happy about getting some net access. It is nice to find it in unexpected places.

Edited to note UBoB's comments about his wireless network not being able to access the internet -- that is a good thing, but better still is using WEP or WPA and even better still is using some sort of hardware address filtering -- MAC address filtering -- to prevent unauthorized access

Yeah, I forgot to mention I do use WPA TKIP encryption with a 64 character passphrase. Key renewal every hour. I've also disabled SSID Broadcast. Since reading your post I took further precautions and have now turned on MAC filtering permitting the MediaCenter Extender access but denying everything else.

My son has a gameboy advance wifi. As we drive down the road he tells me...I have wifi...Joe Smith's wifi. It gives the signal strength and the name of the person whose wifi is open or locked.

I use a wireless router in my house I don't know if its encrypted. The cable company put it in and ran the software, I remember the cable guy saying something about people being able to use my signal but not access my stuff.

And that's all I know about that.

I was talking about this to a client just this weeknd.  About 5 years ago, the county I lived in got every secondary student a WiFi notebook to use at home and at school.  Parents (many) then ran out and bought WiFi gateways and basically named them the same as the schools to make it easier for their kids to connect.  So driving through this county, you probably will pick up a lot of open Wifi!

When I was setting up my wife's computer, I picked up 2 networks.  One was secured, the other was wide open!

#1 by UBoB Sun, August 13, 2006 7:14 PM

Well, if I'm in the mood to watch a movie I'll try and find your signal

#2 by terpfan1980 Sun, August 13, 2006 7:49 PM

Terp, I agree that anyone who doesn't protect their wireless signal is asking for trouble. Sadly most people don't have a clue about it.

Of course that's good for me when I need to do a bit of wardriving as open signals are super easy to find. Good thing I'm a nice guy and not looking to mess with people's systems. Even though most routers have a firewall built in, it really isn't all that hard to find an open port to ssh into.

#4 by Tova7 Sun, August 13, 2006 9:47 PM [Tova7] My son has a gameboy advance wifi. As we drive down the road he tells me...I have wifi...Joe Smith's wifi. It gives the signal strength and the name of the person whose wifi is open or locked. I use a wireless router in my house I don't know if its encrypted. The cable company put it in and ran the software, I remember the cable guy saying something about people being able to use my signal but not access my stuff. And that's all I know about that.

It's not protected, it's an open signal. Don't believe him about people not being able to access your system. While the average know nothing person can't, somebody with a little knowledge and skill can access you system pretty easily.

You need to at least set up the router for WEP protection. MAC address filtering and not broadcasting the identification would also help.

#5 by Dr. Guy Mon, August 14, 2006 08:00 AM [Dr. Guy] I was talking about this to a client just this weeknd. About 5 years ago, the county I lived in got every secondary student a WiFi notebook to use at home and at school. Parents (many) then ran out and bought WiFi gateways and basically named them the same as the schools to make it easier for their kids to connect. So driving through this county, you probably will pick up a lot of open Wifi! When I was setting up my wife's computer, I picked up 2 networks. One was secured, the other was wide open!

Just from my own experiences around the country I'd guess about 90% are wide open.

You need to at least set up the router for WEP protection. MAC address filtering and not broadcasting the identification would also help.

Is that English? heh.

I will have to google it!

#10 by Tova7 Mon, August 14, 2006 6:14 PM [Tova7] You need to at least set up the router for WEP protection. MAC address filtering and not broadcasting the identification would also help. Is that English? heh. I will have to google it!

Read the manual for the router. They can normally be accessed and set up using your web browser.