Community Newsletter: Q&A: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it?
- 10/27/05 5:12 PM
i read it, and i'll re-quote it wherever possible
by jonah jones - 11/17/05 3:40 AM
In reply to: Read the article before you quote it by hicksticks2001
St. Petersburg resident Benjamin Smith III was arrested in April and charged with unauthorized Internet access, a third-degree felony. Special Agent Bob Breeden, head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's computer-crime division, said it's one of the first arrests of its kind in Florida. If convicted, Smith could face up to five years in the state penitentiary
illegal or not, you think it's worth the hassle? you think it's worth the 5 year sentence if it comes to trial and some judge thinks to himself "it's time to make an example of these idiots"?
.
Traveler vs. freeloader
by melsnyder - 10/28/05 5:10 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I take the availability of an unsecured wireless signal as a "welcome, stranger!" sign when I travel, and I use them very frequently -- and would, if easy, send a "thank you" to the owner. Before the chain hotels figured out that free internet was a sales asset, I would often find a free signal to avoid paying some outrageous fee. I never do streaming video or music downloads on such a signal -- just email and a few browses.
On the other hand, I would find it highly objectionable to freeload off a neighbor's high speed connection. In metropolitan areas, it's common to find screen after screen of unsecured linksys signals from a highrise apartment -- if I lved in Manhattan, I would likely hold a building meeting and get a group together to all use a single secured system.
How do I identify people on my network?
by kpdavis48 - 10/28/05 5:11 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You gave specifiic details until the part about "how to identify people on my network." If someone is on my wireless network using my internet service how can I tell who it is?
eyes wide shut
by stoneii - 10/28/05 7:08 AM In reply to: How do I identify people on my network? by kpdavis48well the easiet way is to open your router settings and choose to look at who is attached to your router. If you do not recognize a MAC address (in the list that is given) then it is more then likely your buddy next door.....or the guy out in the white van at the end of the driveway;)
I would love to hear about peoples experiences with 'spealized' identity and ip tracking software since the solution that I gave is really pointless unless you can do something about it.
Identifying people on your network
by solver7 - 10/28/05 8:44 AM In reply to: How do I identify people on my network? by kpdavis48you will need to ''log on'' to your router and locate
the ''view attached devices'' info.
most routers have a graphical interface that you can launch by openning a browser and typing ''http://192.168.0.1 '' (no quotes) into the address line - or whatever your particular router address is.
You will want to limit access to your router by using the security available in the router you have.
The most effective way for a home network to secure access is by using ''limit access to these devices'' feature.
Encryption is common - but easliy crackable whithin minutes.
Check the website of the router manufacturer for
info. I encourage you to do this sooner rather than later. Once you check for attached devices you may be suprised at how many computers show up on that list.
- Solver
Check this Post Link!
by eye2fun - 10/31/05 3:49 AM In reply to: How do I identify people on my network? by kpdavis48If I knew the brand and model number I could give you more details. In the meantime check this link. You will need to access your router with your web browser. You will need it's access address from your manual or the manufacturers web page. The address will look something like this:
http://192.168.1.1 (this one is for a Linksys brand)
Most routers have similiar ways in which to set them up and block those ''MAC'' addresses of people you don't want accessing the net via your router.
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-10149-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=132911&messageID=1504944
Using some ones wireless without there knowledge.
by skeet5050 - 10/28/05 5:41 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Just as an FYI, the state of Florida does have a law against using someone else wireless connection without their permission. There was a story on the news a short time ago about a man who was working in his yard and saw another man parked in front of his house. The person in the car was obviously working on a laptop. The owner thought that the guy may have been a realestate salesman or something. When he sat there too long, the owner got suspicious and called the police. Does anyone else know about such laws in their state?
Breaking the law or listening to the radio?
by mikebellman - 10/28/05 5:57 AM In reply to: Using some ones wireless without there knowledge. by skeet5050The law Florida is using is a complete trumped up "hacking' charge that if it had gone to court would be overturned. (the man plead guilty) "Using" a wireless connection for internet use (mainly port 80) is completely harmless and is similar to listening to someone's radio while they wash their car. They have made the choice to air their signal past the confines of their home.
Remember that there are P2P uplink-downlink bridges usable only by the home user if someone wants to plug in a laptop in their living room. Wireless freedom has a risk and the aforementioned protections are going to help users stay safe. [firewalls, virus protection, spyware killers, running mac instead, etc...]
Now, if someone is using the wireless service for 'less-than-noble' intent: (spam mail, altering your connection, data mining your computers, illegal downloads) these are all illegal activities regardless of the wireless use. This activity identifies the main IP address and implicates the home rather than the user. That's identity theft and on many fronts and spoofs the activity of the home user. That activity is considered HACKING in most states.
In all, if a person is using a wireless connection from in the building, across the room, or from the street. As long as they're simply doing what ~99% of us do (surf, email, chat...) then the harm is ZERO, the benefit is high and the risk is minimal.
Alternative: turn on WEP and a password, turn off SSID and you're practically invisible to wireless sniffers. Case closed.
Surf and relax.
The harm is NOT zero.
by Draugnar - 10/28/05 7:22 AM In reply to: Breaking the law or listening to the radio? by mikebellmanIt's called bandwidth and even on a brandband connection it is limited. Your analogy to radio listening is not the same as listening tot he radio is a passive use of the existing data stream. When you connect to a wireless connection, you are actively altering the datastream to meet your needs. It would be more like you going over and changing the station everytime your neighbor climbed back under the car to work on his/her brakes or tranny or whatever. They'd have to get out and turn it back then you'd change it again.
I have a fixed IP and additional bandwidth running to my house where I run a webserver. Now, I do have my wireless secured with 128-bit WEP (need to upgrader some equipment and go to WPA) plus MAC address filtering, and I have a reasonably strong firewalled router between me and the internet that directs incoming port traffic to the appropriate computers and restricts other all together. It would take a pretty good hacker a little bit of time and effort to get into my system (won't claim it is impossible as we all know there is always a way). But if I did have it open, you'd be stealing bandwidth from my company even just browsing, and that would potentially cause problems for my customers trying to update their websites as well as their customers trying to view them.
Admitedly, my customers are churches and very small sole proprietorships and most are friends, so I only charge for my website development services or if they get popular and start using excessive bandwidth or HD space, so they are unlikely to feel much pain at any given time, but the potential is still there.
Yuo could browse a movie trailer site and download 10s of megs of data at a time, bringing my 6 Mb connection to its knees, and yet still think no harm was done because you were just "browing the web".
Passive versus active. Think about it.
Just my $.07 (inflation),
Draugnar
Radio vs. ethics
by dggrant - 10/28/05 4:46 PM In reply to: The harm is NOT zero. by DraugnarThere must be more to the story in Florida, or it was not taken to court. The only legal limit to receiving a radio signal refers to cell phones. Amateur Radio has dealt with this question for years. Beyond the cell phone issue it is up to the frequency user to provide encryption or any other protection possible (such as spread spectrum). It is legal for someone to use a scanner to listen to your cordless telephone conversations. That is why I didn't use a cordless phone until I could get a spread spectrum phone.
If someone is providing a hot spot, fine. (My wireless agreement, by the way, states that I cannot provide an open signal for others.)War driving, or taking advantage of someone's lack of knowlege of wireless is completly unethical. Don't take advantage of them, tell them and help them encode their signal.
Bad Example
by hicksticks2001 - 10/28/05 5:26 PM In reply to: The harm is NOT zero. by DraugnarI don't feel you can use yourself as an example since you have taken lengths to encrypt your wireless network. If someone broke in and used your bandwidth, that would be one thing. But if you didn't offer any security on your web server, you would be providing a pretty crappy service to those churches. If people wanted to download a movie trailer on your open 6Mb network, then they could.
It is up to the network administrator to decide the intent. Encryption means closed, no encryption means open. Ignorantly not encrypting means open.
My experience.
by bballerDEAN - 10/28/05 5:42 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a Linksys home network and one day I checked the users of it and I saw 'Josh' as a user. That is the name of my neighbor. I got MAD so I set up a password for our network.
...Of course, I JUST got my phones and internet back from Hurricane Wilma (I still have no power). So when the net was down my computer was picking up a network from a block away (they have power... how fair is that?!) So of course I tried to connect to it, and it even said unsecured network... but it wouldn't let me connect. Anyway, my network is now up and running via generator. 5 days without power and counting.....
Re: Can they see me?
by gestault - 10/28/05 5:47 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I agree with almost everything of the OP except that if they see you, they can catch you. My only addition to this is that in all cases, you should 'see' each other. Now, the question was from the interloper not from the person having bandwidth swiped, but if the 2 (or more) people are seen on the same network, don't assume that anyone is being stolen from or hacked. If the AP's or routers(or the laptop acting as AP) are close, and in apartment buildings or hotels especially, there may be DOZENS nearby, you will see all of those as well as any thieves. The usual rules about network security apply. Sometimes the hardware is detected clearly as a network(secured or not), sometimes it just shows up as the SSID like ''Anthony''. It depends on what you're using to browse the network and how it's configured.
My point is, it can get confusing as to what you're looking at when you browse your network components when you're near other dwellings. Be careful nonetheless and watch the firewall use(get one) and also limit what you put in shared files(this won't keep out a dedicated hacker, but the casual non-approved network interloper will probably be stopped at just the data that's in your shared folders). Again, mixed OS's also screw things up as well...
Addendum
by gestault - 10/28/05 6:01 AM In reply to: Re: Can they see me? by gestaultI forgot to put my $.02 about ethical considerations...I think that the burden is on the network/bandwidth owner(ISP bill payer)to protect his/her own network. You shouldn't be setting up a wireless network if you don't understand security issues and you have a strong opinion about bandwidth usage. If you're that bothered, switch back to a wired connection in your home and only go wireless on the road...
reply to the "chosen answer"
by yourpcmedic - 10/28/05 5:54 AM In reply to: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This guy probably spends alot of time looking for black helicoptors on the horizon as well. I feel this answer is a bit extreme. It makes it sound like there are people in unmarked vans patrolling suburbia so that they can get a glimpse of your latest vacation photos stored on your hard drive. For this mattre, your phone might be tapped, they could be listening to your cell phone calls, and maybe you should start wearing a little hat made of aluminum foil.
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