How to identify a free Hotspot from one that is just not secure.
Greetings...
Apologies if this is the wrong forum.
I work in central London and I have discovered a Wireless network that lets me sign on with no security and browse the internet. I assumed this was a free site as there are loads of those 'ever so trendy' coffee houses near my office, which supply wifi access. Great I thought, access the net on my lovely Axim 51v in the office for free!
But, when I told a friend about this discovery, as I had just got google.co.uk on the 51v, he said ' Are you sure it is a free hotspot and not just an insecure network'. He also directed me to the news item about the chap who was prosecuted her for using someone’s internet with out permission!
I have not used it since - just to be safe.
So.... is there a way to find out if this network is a free hotspot or not?
Incidentally, the SSID is 'STIHESS'
Thank you in advance :)
Last edited by lifesquestiong; 01-27-06 at 06:12 AM.
Reason: dreadful spelling error..
Usually the name of the WiFi site is more Business like for free hot spots compare to Joe's unsecure network. I would check there first as I do not beleive it is advertise otherwise.
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If you get dead silence after breaking the speed of sound, would you be in the darkness after passing the speed of light?
Unsecured wifi will usually broadcast the device manufacturers name, "linksys" and "d-link" are common. I dont worry about connecting to any open access points cause Im not looking to browse the owners stuff. I just "borrow the internet bandwidth to check weather and email.
__________________ An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last.
I always ASSUME that it's just someone who doesn't know how to encrypt their network unless there is something obvious. STRBUCKS as an SSID (for example) would suggest to me that it might belong to the Starbucks across the street. Or if it was "PUBLIC" then I'd also consider using it.
If it was "JOHNS" or "HOMENET" or "LINKSYS" I'd be assuming that it was private.
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Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
If they dont encrypt their network then its there own fault. I dont look at people files but freely surf the internet when i need to.
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If they dont encrypt their network then its there own fault. I dont look at people files but freely surf the internet when i need to.
while that's a very pragmatic attitude, it's not one that stands up in court (under UK law). In fact the prosecution mentioned earlier in the thread was for a UK unencrypted network with no security on it. As far as i know that was the only UK case so far.
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i know that wouldnt stand up in court but i just think that if people want to embrase this new technology then they should at least spend 10 minutes reading the manual to see how to set it up correctly. Its pretty straight forward and mostly web based (for most home WAPs anyway).Ive just set few up for my school where i work and even with the WAP connected throught a Switch and then going throught a PDC it was still simple, just a case of putting it onto the gateway.
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i know that wouldnt stand up in court but i just think that if people want to embrase this new technology then they should at least spend 10 minutes reading the manual to see how to set it up correctly. Its pretty straight forward and mostly web based (for most home WAPs anyway).Ive just set few up for my school where i work and even with the WAP connected throught a Switch and then going throught a PDC it was still simple, just a case of putting it onto the gateway.
Absolutely.... and if you don't encrypy your Wifi network then you are responsible for any traffic that goes over it. So the police could bust the person outside, and the homeowner if any 'naughty' files were sent.
More people have been prosectuted in the UK for this than 'borrowing' wifi (so there!)
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while that's a very pragmatic attitude, it's not one that stands up in court (under UK law). In fact the prosecution mentioned earlier in the thread was for a UK unencrypted network with no security on it. As far as i know that was the only UK case so far.
i know that wouldnt stand up in court but i just think that if people want to embrase this new technology then they should at least spend 10 minutes reading the manual to see how to set it up correctly. Its pretty straight forward and mostly web based (for most home WAPs anyway).Ive just set few up for my school where i work and even with the WAP connected throught a Switch and then going throught a PDC it was still simple, just a case of putting it onto the gateway.
The fact that forums like this exist are proof that people (as a whole) will NEVER spend the 10 minutes required to read the manual.
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Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
The fact that forums like this exist are proof that people (as a whole) will NEVER spend the 10 minutes required to read the manual.
hmmm maybe i would have read the manual for my router.... if it took 8 hours to charge
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lol, i suppose but i just dont think that people who dont secure their wap are iniocent. surely they should take the blame too.
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if a wifi network is open and you are not using it for malicious intent and the owner isnt complaining or it isnt really harming him or his system then I would say use it its the owners responsibility to secure it if he dont want others on it if you are smart enough to use wifi you should know about encryption
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