[csamuels]

This artical is geared towards wifi sniffers and discusses what they can & cannot do due to the law. Mark also writes about unprotected access points that have no security.

I think, as many of you may also, that the current laws need to be revised or new laws made. Many computer crimes laws can be seen in many different ways, so how do we go about making these laws?

WiFi High Crimes By Mark Rasch May 03 2004 05:00AM PT

"Before WiFi can entirely fulfill its promise, we'll have to confront an oppressive latticework of outdated criminal laws.

A local Washington DC television news station wanted to do a WiFi "hack." Their plan was to sit in a local coffee shop (named after the Pequod's first mate) and try to read their neighbors' e-mail or Web browsing. They had a simple question for me: "Is it legal?"

[LANMaster]

Someone comes around sniffin' my wifi, they're gonna git 'em a black eye.
'specially if'n she's not wearin' her drawers.

[EdGreene]

What's a WIFI "Bubble" and where are they?

[LANMaster]

Hi Ed,

If I understand WIFI technology, (someone please correct me if I am wrong) places like Starbucks, for example, purchase a license to install wireless internet connections in their shop. bandwidth is good unless the place gets really crowded.

You can bring in your own laptop and access the internet through their wireless connection. Or you might be able to use Starbucks wireless connection simply by parking close to the building (thereby stealing an internet connection and slowing all of the Customers' connections at the same time)

This can get really bad when we're talking about a large company which purchases hundreds of licensed connections over a wider area (at considerable cost) and people half a mile away can steal your connection and slow down all the users at your business.

UNLESS the ISP knows how many connections are made and the user is charged PER CONNECTION. Then you could have some REAL theft issues.

Any of you techies want to confirm what I just wrote? I'd like to know if I captured the essence of this issue.

[oldie]

Originally Posted by LANMaster

Someone comes around sniffin' my wifi, they're gonna git 'em a black eye.
'specially if'n she's not wearin' her drawers.

Same goes for Oldie. Wifey belong Oldie. Oldie keep wifey 40 years, so bugger orf

[Alfie_UK]

Originally Posted by LANMaster

Someone comes around sniffin' my wifi, they're gonna git 'em a black eye.
'specially if'n she's not wearin' her drawers.

^^^

VVV

Originally Posted by oldie

Same goes for Oldie. Wifey belong Oldie. Oldie keep wifey 40 years, so bugger orf

LMAO,

[guilo]

you can download a packet sniffer and recompile the packets to a file.
I never tried it but I hear it works just dandy.

[jackal969k]

If it is not legal, might we not get into trouble explaining how to do it in the forum. Not that there is much to it nor has anyone given great detail but it is a thought.

[flyeater]

I've picked up many wireless connections. I've gotten as many as five at a time while sitting in my brothers living room in Philly. Most are secured to some extent or another but I always find a few open connections. I was never interested in getting into secured networks or accessing folders on other machines on the network. Just wanted to see what connections were out there. While I've used some bandwidth from these networks I don't usually connect. Some of the burden falls on the network owner. Don't establish a wireless network if you don't know how to protect it.
Keep in mind these kind of "access points" are unintentional and differ dramatically from well know public "nodes". See here for a directory. Some connections are free and meant to be so with no real limits. Realistically though how long do you want to sit on a park bench in Rittenhouse square? The New York City public libraries offers free access in 58 branches. There are even plans for free nodes on the Washington Mall.

[GoneForNow]

Personally, I count upon the kindness of strangers, that's why I don't pay for broadband.

[Ciberblade]

Originally Posted by flyeater

Don't establish a wireless network if you don't know how to protect it.

Exactly!

[EdGreene]

Originally Posted by LANMaster

Hi Ed,

If I understand WIFI technology, (someone please correct me if I am wrong) places like Starbucks, for example, purchase a license to install wireless internet connections in their shop. bandwidth is good unless the place gets really crowded.

You can bring in your own laptop and access the internet through their wireless connection. Or you might be able to use Starbucks wireless connection simply by parking close to the building (thereby stealing an internet connection and slowing all of the Customers' connections at the same time)

(SNIP)

So if you are in or near a Starbuck's then, you are in (under) their "Bubble"?

[LANMaster]

I don't know if Starbucks has the WIFI wireless ISP service. I was using them as an abstract example. Probably a bade example, but I can imagine internet cafes would likely want this service rather than all those cords.
(Starbucks was a not-so-clever link to the term cafe )

Theoretically, if a business uses WIFI bubble, you could physically drive near the building and steal their wireless internet connection.