Open Wifi Access
Recently, Baz blogged about 2 people being arrested for using other people’s wifi for free access.
I actually read this in the Metro on the bus on the way home today, and I think it’s ludicrous. OK, some people don’t like it, but then most if not all Wireless Devices have the ability to use something along the lines of WEP/WPA etc. Surely, you can either blame the people setting up the wireless router for not setting it up in a secure way, or blame the manufacturers for not getting across the point of how WEP/WPA are good, and should be enabled? I can find a basic description in my routers manual, which doesn’t explain what these technologies are, just where to type in a key in the routers configuration screen.
I purposely leave my wireless open to the public (allbeit with traffic shaping so that my bandwidth doesn’t get molested!) And so far, have had 7 “visitors” with one actually taking the time out to research who I was and email me telling me I had an open access point, and how to fix it. How kind of them, but I replied and explained to them what I was doing.
I urge anyone out there to have a look at Fon - free wireless for those who share theirs 
Enjoy!
April 18th, 2007 at 10:32 am
[...] randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI purposely leave my wireless open to the public (allbeit with traffic shaping so that my bandwidth doesn’t get molested!) And so far, have had 7 “visitors” with one actually taking the time out to research who I was and email me … [...]
April 18th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I would like the idea of leaving my wireless open to others - but at the same time, the law does appears to state that YOU are resonible for any criminal activity that happens via your internet access - which rather puts me off.
Still it’s good to know that there is at least one chap out there that take the time to inform you of an open wireless access point and how to fix etc - jolly good of him.
The law in this case is an ass - many factory default installs of Windows XP will automatically join any open wireless point - without prompting you at all.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
The problem with having an open AP is :
1) Potentially anyone gains access to your network, inside the firewall (i.e. NFS issues etc)
2) It’s possible that the police could come knocking with charges of child pornography etc being linked to your computer. Obviously you have an excuse, but it would seem to be a huge hassle for no gain.
3) Bandwidth leeches - degrading your ADSL.
Having said that, I did have an Open AP for some time, although it was on it’s own separate restricted network (i.e. ssh to server and http_proxy with username/password only).
Having an open access point therefore becomes a good get-out-of-jail card if you do download anything illegal of course…. so it’s a two sided thing.
When I have used open access points (e.g. in London), all traffic goes via SSH…
David.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Better than FON, an open community network (like seattlewireless, i.e.).
April 18th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
[...] Register « Open Wifi Access [...]
April 18th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
There’s a lot of over hyping of the risks of opening your wifi. OK, you do risk people hogging your download cap, but if, like me, you’re not capped I don’t see that as an issue.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Surely, if you’re wireless is unencrypted, anybody who is in range to connect can also intercept your data packets? They could then potentially be reading any personal information that is sent over the wireless as plaintext (such as emails). Obviously this depends on the network type (hub/switched), but even so this seems like a serious security hole.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Baz: It’s not so much the download capping that would be an issue. It’s like others have said, the illegal activity is what can be a hassle.
Downloading child porn, movies, apps.
In response to blaming the people leaving their router open, I disagree on that point. The fact most people don’t have a clue how to put a “lock” on their router doesn’t mean you are free to use it.
I have a pool and swingset in my backyard, would you think about walking by and jumping in my pool or have your kids use my swingset? I guess not and I believe the same should be applied to wireless access.
Yes people should know how to put a secure the wireless access, and manufactures should make it more clear how and why to do it. But an open access doesn’t mean you are free to use it.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I don’t actually use my wireless myself, except on the rare occasion a friend comes round or for chatting through Jabber on my laptop while sitting in bed. Everything important goes through my main PC, and If I need anything important, I SSH into that through the wireless!
I don’t particularly need wireless, but it’s there, because my router I inherited has it, so why not let other people benefit ?
April 18th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Peter: surely though that pool and swingset is IN your backyard. It isn’t half in your backyard, half in your neighbours yard, and half in the street? If it was, then it’d be more in the context of wireless, and I’m sure you’d see more people jumping in your pool or using your swingset
April 18th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Mezz: Good point. A different example, you are on the beach, public space. You rent a chair, put your towel on it, put some of your bags underneath, it’s clear to anybody this chair is not theirs. Would it be OK for a stranger to use your chair while you are swimming in the ocean?
My point is that if you are using somebody’s bandwidth you know it’s not yours so what gives you the right to use it? I think it is a bit harsh to have people arrested for using your bandwidth but I don’t believe it’s my responsibility to make sure nobody can use my bandwidth.
In an apartment complex I can see how you sometimes use your neighbors wireless instead of your own and that’s accidental but to sit in front of a house, in your car and using a wireless you discovered that’s just to much.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Peter: I would never go wardrving myself, but to me, the Deck Chair thing doesn’t stand up.
A Chair is obviously only possible to be used by one person at a time, therefore, by them using the chair they’re denying you access to it. This would be a DoS attack in modern day times.
Think of Wireless more of a very long bench. Would you begrudge someone sharing it if there was still space on it for you ?
April 18th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Mezz: I was referring to a chaise lounge, the ones you can lay down on, three people could it on it.
If you rented the entire bench, you rented it for a reason, either you wanted the space or you just felt like it. It doesn’t give somebody the right to sit on the bench without asking.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Peter: I see the point about people doing ‘illegal stuff’, but downloading a film can take hours, and most people’s battery would run out before then.
I’d be interested to know if anyone has ever been ‘talked to’ by the police for what people have done on their open node.
My policy is: so long as it’s not abused I keep it open.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
http://freifunk.net/ is a good open alternative (though mostly german)