Bonus - Wireless Access On Vacation

[+markp99]

I am on vacation this week in a cottage at the beach in Rhode Island. I brought a bunch of NH TB's (7) and a couple NH GeoCoins to drop while in the area. I was concerned about not being able to log these guys in a timely manner as the area we are staying is somewhat remote with even limited cell phone coverage.

 

I had almost zero hope of finding an wireless internet signal. but there it was on the first try! and accessible to boot.

 

A nice little bonus for this week off. No need to find a public hotspot to log my activities.

 

Thank you Mr. "Linksys - Default" wherever you are!

Edited July 9, 2006 by markp99

[+Team JSAM]

[+thedeadpirate]

You'd find Mr. RethinkB4ULink around here.

[+BadAndy]

I keep my access point open...it's no biggie.

[+thedeadpirate]

I keep my access point open...it's no biggie.

 

Until your neighbor downloads kiddy porn and they trace it back to your IP address.

[+thekueglers]

While on vacation in Maine with my brother two two weeks back, we did some caching. His work provides him with internet access via their cell carrier. Nice to check google maps while zipping along I95 at 70mph!

[+thedeadpirate]

I use PDANet to link my treo with my laptop while on the road. It IS cool to be surfing the net at DSL speeds while driving at interstate speeds.

 

I also use it when in hotels as more and more of them want to charge for internet access now.

[+BadAndy]

I keep my access point open...it's no biggie.

If that happened, I'd be more than happy to let them inspect my drives.

[magellan315]

Keep ypur eyes open for a local coffee shop, many of them have free access. Also McDonalds is offering wireless connections in many of their locations.

[+Clan X-Man]

Keep ypur eyes open for a local coffee shop, many of them have free access. Also McDonalds is offering wireless connections in many of their locations.

 

Yep they are and I thought that would be awesome when I bought a Palm TX for work and caching. Sadly Mickey D's is charging for access.

 

X

[+Team Torque]

I keep my access point open...it's no biggie.

 

Until your neighbor downloads kiddy porn and they trace it back to your IP address.

 

Actually having an open WAP is an excellent defense to a RIAA file sharing or other similar law suite. It was not me but someone using my connection.

 

If Comcast and their fellow thieves have their way they want it make it illegal for anyone to offer free Internet via wireless. Some cities have done this and it cuts into Comcast profits. Let your congressperson know you want local communities to be able to make their own decisions and not have choices limited by special interest.

[+IV_Warrior]

Keep ypur eyes open for a local coffee shop, many of them have free access. Also McDonalds is offering wireless connections in many of their locations.

 

Yep they are and I thought that would be awesome when I bought a Palm TX for work and caching. Sadly Mickey D's is charging for access.

 

X

 

That depends on location, at least the last time I checked. Some McD's had free access but I did run into a couple that charged.

[Jake - Team A.I.]

When I travel with my laptop, I keep this handy...

 

 

I just plug my cantenna into the aux antenna port on my wireless card, and look for the open network. Thanks to this little baby, I'm more likely to find a open access point near the cache itself.

[+sbell111]

I keep my access point open...it's no biggie.

It's no biggie for someone accessing your network, but for the OP and the guy with the commando antenna, they might be committing a felony.

[+9Key]

and a couple NH GeoCoins to drop

New Hampshire geocoins? I must've missed them!

[+5Tucks]

I noticed that alot of the Flying J truck stops in Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming advertise free WiFi access.

 

Also alot of hotels have open wifi so you can just pull into the parking lot and get online.

[+BadAndy]

I noticed that alot of the Flying J truck stops in Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming advertise free WiFi access.

 

Also alot of hotels have open wifi so you can just pull into the parking lot and get online.

 

The flying J stops aren't free, it's $5.00 per day alacarte or 29.95 per month. They advertise it as Unlimited access.

 

Many hotels do have open access points. As for free access in Idaho, my favorite is the riverwalk park in Idaho falls. The city maintains a network of open hotspots all along the river from the temple to the falls. I use it to log my caches whenever I get to the east side and the state.

 

The lodge at Macks Inn is supposed to have an open free hotspot this season. It'd be pretty handy to log in under the light of your campfire.

[+Gringo871]

For FREE WiFi while on the road, I like to patronize the Panera Bread franchises that are popping up. Great food, excellent coffee and no charge for WiFi. What's not to like? Check out www.panerabread.com to locate their stores along your planned route.

 

Gringo 871

[+AtoZ]

Not sure if it has happened yet but there was some talk about making grabbing someone else access point without there permission a cirminal offense as it is actually stealing. Just what I heard.

cheers

[+sbell111]

Not sure if it has happened yet but there was some talk about making grabbing someone else access point without there permission a cirminal offense as it is actually stealing. Just what I heard.

It's not just talk. People have gone to been arrested.

Edited July 12, 2006 by sbell111

[Jake - Team A.I.]

Not sure if it has happened yet but there was some talk about making grabbing someone else access point without there permission a cirminal offense as it is actually stealing. Just what I heard.

It's not just talk. People have gone to been arrested.

 

As the saying goes... you results may vary. Not every state has laws enacted yet.

 

My "Cantenna" is a directional antenna as opposed to a omni directional antenna that usually come with wifi cards. My home network is pretty secure, and the first time I fired up my laptop with the cantenna attached, I found myself connected to a neighbors network. Since they had DHCP enabled and they weren't blocking or encrypting anything, I had to disconnect from it to manually attach to my network. Yes, with the cantenna, I can reach out and touch someone, but it also comes in handy to get better connectivity to my home network.

 

I made the antenna for a project in my network security class. The teacher brought his laptop, and I brought my laptop and cantenna. I was picking up 4 times as many access points as my teacher was. about 2/3's of those access points were wide open.

 

I've heard of people being arrested, but I haven't heard of anyone being successfully prosecuted. I can understand if they were accessing inappropriate material or hacking into banks, but I can't see them wasting time prosecuting someone for surfing the net with someone elses bandwidth. If they are so concerned about their bandwidth, they should lock the accesspoint down, or pay someone to do it for them.

[+Colorado Cacher]

Do a search for free WI-FI and there is usally a site or two, or three that will tell you where they are wherever your at.

 

Get in the habit of looking for Post Offices as you drive thru wherever you are at because they have real big numbers known as Zip Codes on the front of them, and you can use this to access WI-FI locations, through websites with.

[+sbell111]

Not sure if it has happened yet but there was some talk about making grabbing someone else access point without there permission a cirminal offense as it is actually stealing. Just what I heard.

It's not just talk. People have gone to been arrested.

As the saying goes... you results may vary. Not every state has laws enacted yet.

No, but federal laws could certainly apply; specifically, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Electronic Communications Protection Act. You could also be charged with Theft of Services, Trespass, and Unjust Enrichment if they were really picky.

 

I know that there have been arrests related to these activities, but I didn't dig deep enough to find out what the disposition of these cases has been. Its likely that they were plead out, which, of course, is still a conviction.

[+FireRef]

Not sure if it has happened yet but there was some talk about making grabbing someone else access point without there permission a cirminal offense as it is actually stealing. Just what I heard.

It's not just talk. People have gone to been arrested.

As the saying goes... you results may vary. Not every state has laws enacted yet.

No, but federal laws could certainly apply; specifically, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Electronic Communications Protection Act. You could also be charged with Theft of Services, Trespass, and Unjust Enrichment if they were really picky.

 

I know that there have been arrests related to these activities, but I didn't dig deep enough to find out what the disposition of these cases has been. Its likely that they were plead out, which, of course, is still a conviction.

 

But are there any actual laws that prohibit this act? In effect, you're applying some laws loosely to get them to apply to this activity. And what the heck is "Unjust Enrichment"? I laid down fertilizer on your soil and you don't like it? heh...

 

It seems to me that if you put a signal up that allows anyone to use it, it is your fault if people pick it up and use your bandwith.

[+thedeadpirate]

It seems to me that if you put a signal up that allows anyone to use it, it is your fault if people pick it up and use your bandwith.

 

Our group (computer club) has spoken on this topic a number of times. That very argument comes up over and over. The best analogy I can give you is if I left my front door unlocked and wide open and you entered in my house, whether you took anything or not, you could very easily find yourself in jail for breaking and entering and trespassing.

 

There is even a difference in how you "wardrive". If you use Net Stumbler, you could be considered as breaking the law since NS is an active scanner, meaning it actively communicates with the network. Kismet, on the other hand, is passive. It gets all of its information simply by listening.

 

Wardriving has for the most part been held as legal since you aren't really using someone else's network. However, that doesn't keep the police from trying to prosecute people for doing it. You need to make sure you are not using any bandwidth that doesn't belong to you.

 

Once you actually start "sharing" someone's bandwidth without their permission, you are breaking the law.

 

Will you get caught? Probably not.

 

Would I take the chance? Nope, I don't have the finances for a good legal team.

[+FireRef]

It seems to me that if you put a signal up that allows anyone to use it, it is your fault if people pick it up and use your bandwith.

 

Our group (computer club) has spoken on this topic a number of times. That very argument comes up over and over. The best analogy I can give you is if I left my front door unlocked and wide open and you entered in my house, whether you took anything or not, you could very easily find yourself in jail for breaking and entering and trespassing.

 

There is even a difference in how you "wardrive". If you use Net Stumbler, you could be considered as breaking the law since NS is an active scanner, meaning it actively communicates with the network. Kismet, on the other hand, is passive. It gets all of its information simply by listening.

 

Wardriving has for the most part been held as legal since you aren't really using someone else's network. However, that doesn't keep the police from trying to prosecute people for doing it. You need to make sure you are not using any bandwidth that doesn't belong to you.

 

Once you actually start "sharing" someone's bandwidth without their permission, you are breaking the law.

 

Will you get caught? Probably not.

 

Would I take the chance? Nope, I don't have the finances for a good legal team.

 

I thought of that house example too, but realized it really doesn't apply. You are putting your radio signals on my property, and I am simply communicating with them because of that. It is not costing you anything more because I am doing that.

 

I see it more as if you grow fruit or veggies, and your vines bring the fruit onto my property, I should have the right to pick and use it - if you want to keep it, keep it on your property.

[+geoduck.5]

Tiny Troy, Idaho (pop. 800) has free wireless internet for those who live close to the downtown area. Pretty soon, all major cities will have free wireless.

[+sbell111]

I thought of that house example too, but realized it really doesn't apply. You are putting your radio signals on my property, and I am simply communicating with them because of that. It is not costing you anything more because I am doing that.

 

I see it more as if you grow fruit or veggies, and your vines bring the fruit onto my property, I should have the right to pick and use it - if you want to keep it, keep it on your property.

You might not like the analogy, but that doesn't make the practice legal.

[+Tharagleb]

Tiny Troy, Idaho (pop. 800) has free wireless internet for those who live close to the downtown area. Pretty soon, all major cities will have free wireless.

 

That is a pretty big leap in logic. Why will all major cities provide this for free? [And even if they did, nothing is free, taxes will have to cover it.]

 

I am all for free internet access, I just don't see it happening like you envision.

[+sbell111]

I thought of that house example too, but realized it really doesn't apply. You are putting your radio signals on my property, and I am simply communicating with them because of that. It is not costing you anything more because I am doing that.

 

I see it more as if you grow fruit or veggies, and your vines bring the fruit onto my property, I should have the right to pick and use it - if you want to keep it, keep it on your property.

I park my convertible in a parking lot which you own and I leave the top down and my new laptop on the seat. You wander by and take my laptop. Did you break the law?

[+thedeadpirate]

I thought of that house example too, but realized it really doesn't apply. You are putting your radio signals on my property, and I am simply communicating with them because of that. It is not costing you anything more because I am doing that.

 

Actually, that shows exactly why wardriving has been held to be legal. Using Kismet to passively scan, I am simply listening to the radio signals you are radiating onto my property. I'm not sending anything back to your equipment and thus not using any additional resources on your end.

 

However, when I take it to the next step and start sending signals back, I am now trespassing and using your equipment for which I do not have your permission.

 

As for it costing you anything more for me to leach your bandwidth, chances are you're right. If I just use it to post my caching logs and pull a couple of cache listings, then no one will probably be the wiser and nothing will probably be said. Technically I am causing the ISP more in bandwith, but not enough that anyone will probably say anything about.

 

However, my original point was not about leaching wireless bandwidth. My point was why you really should lock down your router. Because if you don't, then I could surf for kiddy porn and leave you to defend yourself when the authorities trace it back to your IP address. I could also decide to use a P2P client and hog up your bandwidth. Then you would be left wondering why you can't surf the internet as quickly as you once could or to defend yourself when RIAA comes knocking.

 

Of course, you could use the defense stated earlier that your AP was open and you don't know who used your bandwidth. However, it's still your money and time spent to defend yourself.

[+FireRef]

I thought of that house example too, but realized it really doesn't apply. You are putting your radio signals on my property, and I am simply communicating with them because of that. It is not costing you anything more because I am doing that.

 

I see it more as if you grow fruit or veggies, and your vines bring the fruit onto my property, I should have the right to pick and use it - if you want to keep it, keep it on your property.

I park my convertible in a parking lot which you own and I leave the top down and my new laptop on the seat. You wander by and take my laptop. Did you break the law?

 

Yes, because that is specifically covered in the law. My example is not. Taking things out of someone's vehicle is specifically covered by the law. I don't believe the veggie example, or the radio signal example, are at this point.

[+thedeadpirate]

I thought of that house example too, but realized it really doesn't apply. You are putting your radio signals on my property, and I am simply communicating with them because of that. It is not costing you anything more because I am doing that.

 

I see it more as if you grow fruit or veggies, and your vines bring the fruit onto my property, I should have the right to pick and use it - if you want to keep it, keep it on your property.

I park my convertible in a parking lot which you own and I leave the top down and my new laptop on the seat. You wander by and take my laptop. Did you break the law?

 

Yes, because that is specifically covered in the law. My example is not. Taking things out of someone's vehicle is specifically covered by the law. I don't believe the veggie example, or the radio signal example, are at this point.

 

You are correct that specific laws are slow to be written. However, there are plenty of laws on the books to cover this.

 

It really doesn't bother me though if someone else wants to be a guinea pig and spend their money defending themselves in court while legislature catches up with new laws geared specifically to this.

 

I don't have the money to wage a defense either for leaching someone's bandwidth or for someone else's illegal downloads while leaching my bandwidth.

[+sbell111]

It is, but whatever.

[+Wadcutter]

Tiny Troy, Idaho (pop. 800) has free wireless internet for those who live close to the downtown area. Pretty soon, all major cities will have free wireless.

 

That is a pretty big leap in logic. Why will all major cities provide this for free? [And even if they did, nothing is free, taxes will have to cover it.]

 

I am all for free internet access, I just don't see it happening like you envision.

 

Springfield IL was suppose to have free WiFi operational in the larger downtown area by 07/01/06 and eventually extend. 2 tornados hit the town in March which kind of set their plans back a bit but they're still shooting for the end of summer.