So I finally got my computer hooked up in my new apartment last night … installed my new WiFi card … found no less with four different networks … but they were all password-protected. What’s wrong with these people — haven’t they ever heard of sharing??
Heh. Finally, the word is getting out. Sucks for free bandwidth, of course, but (for example) it’s one more way to protect Windows machines from random network-spreading worms, reduce the unmonitored flow of spam, etc. etc.
Of course, I’ve been an IT pro for a few years, and have developed paranoia about such things. Our network at home isn’t password-protected, but it has an access-control list based on hardware addresses.
Lol, I know how you feel. Luckily, two of the people in my area haven’t figured out yet that they should password protect their networks. I haven’t paid for internet in like a year and a half …
Why should you password protect? It doesn’t really hurt you to share bandwidth, especially if all you are doing is downloading a few web pages and sending a few emails. Does access to your internet connection somehow provide access to your computer? I wouldn’t think it would provide anymore access than the fact that you are connected to the internet in the first place. In other words, the internet connection doesn’t create some sort of LAN between your computer and the other person’s computer that is in addition to the Internet. But maybe all sorts of bad things can be done that I don’t know about.
It doesn’t grant access to your computer … but I think if your network is unencrypted, a hacker could more easily eavesdrop on the Internet traffic being passed between your computer and your WiFi server.
Also, an unsecured network could also be used to send spam emails, access child porn, and plot terrorist attacks. Technically, if your network was used for these purposes and the authorities tried to track the bad guys down, they’d end up knocking on your door.
But all that seems just so very unlikely … it’s not like these networks have the greatest range. Anytime you do something nice for a stranger, you never really know if you’re aiding a serial killer. The benefits in terms of neighborliness, etc., far outweigh the potential risks, IMHO.
I’m catching up on reading blogs and wanted to comment on this one since the “dmz” in my blog run-dmz stands for two things, one of which applies to information security — my chosen field. (Love your blog, by the way, Derek. And congrats on the new apt.)
First, it is indeed a cakewalk for a hacker to eavesdrop on all the communications passing back and forth [secret love notes, passwords to your online bank account, “anonymous” flames to your boss’s boss, etc.] on an unprotected wi-fi line. It’s also correct that the same unprotected machine is likely being remotely controlled to store child porn, send spam in your honor and do goodness knows what else. Like leaving keys in an unlocked car, the bad guys believe you’re just asking for trouble.
There’s also a guy in Florida right now probably wishing he’d bought his own wireless access point instead of “sniffing” his neighbor’s. The neighbor found out and sued him. At the very least, the guy’s out a few grand in lawyer’s fees trying to defend his actions.
So, while chances are you won’t get caught, and it may seem more neighborly, there is a risk. I suggest moving to San Francisco, where Google’s promised to liberate the masses with it’s own free Wi-Fi citywide! Then again, you might also have to root for the 49ers….