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How long before someone releases a tool that would have a Linux-running computer or device with a WiFi card masquerading as an official Comcast WiFi hotspot an collecting the usernames & passwords of the users trying to connect ?

That was possible before and it's still possible now. And not just with Comcast but also with Boingo, AT&T Portal, etc. Only solution: ban all WiFi hotspots!

What is the Boingo software and why should I download it?

• Boingo software turns the arduous ritual of logging in to Wi-Fi hotspots into a one-click love affair. The software automatically alerts you whenever youâ(TM)re in a Boingo hotspot and stores your username and password, so you can get online quickly and easily.
• Boingo software is free!
• Boingo software for your laptop is recommended, but not required.
• Boingo software for your Wi-Fi enabled device is required.

How can Boingo software not be required for my laptop, but Boingo software IS required for my "Wi-Fi enabled device"?

I thought the Boingo software just made it "easy" to find Boingo member networks, and to automatically supply your user ID / password. If it's possible to just scan for the network, and then log in with a username / password, why wouldn't I be able to do that with my WiFi capable BlackBerry and "Hotspot" browser?

Boingo isn't exclusively a Windows offering. Here's a link to Boingo's announcement of a Linux client.

I just got FiOS installed last week, and let me tell you, it's just the most incredible thing out there. Fiber to the home, plenty of bandwidth, and the best digital television picture I've ever seen. It makes AT&T's U-Verse product look like a pathetic joke by comparison. Free wireless on top of all of that ... well that's just more delicious icing on the cake.

http://www.boingo.com/download-boingo.php Assuming this is Boingo network, I don't see how Boingo software can't be used within Boingo network. Currently Boingo supports from Windows XP, Mac OS X, Nokia N series, WindowCE, Blackberry, Android and iPhone/iPod Touch. Most likely Verizon partnership with Boingo is to include the Verizon netbook promo users for branding. I mean, even the most stupidest marketing idiots should be able to see the idiocy in supporting only Windows XP/Vista. I really really really don't want to lose my faith in humanity because of this...

They also have an app for almost every smart phone platform available.

http://mobile.boingo.com/download/

Given the rich variety provided on this list of supported devices from Boingo, I would have to say that it must have been intentional douchebaggery on Verizon's part. (i.e. if no one uses the 'free' access, then Verizon doesn't have to pay for it)

I won't say the name.

I'll save you the effort. You work for Boingo wireless.

I won't say the name.

I'll save you the effort. You work for Boingo wireless.

I won't say the name.

I'll save you the effort. You work for Boingo wireless.

Who said anything about free internet or illegal? Boingo Wireless is a paid subscription service.

I don't know how relevant or useful it is, but Linksys (groan) [offers a HotSpot in a box] (more details [here]).. Since it seems so easy to set-up, you might want to immediately start running this at one of the locations, then do your other custom solution at another, and see which one works better. If you get a lot of customers used to going to many HotSpots, then this solution could work as it is with Boingo. You could go the T-Mobile route as well.

Disclaimer: I do not know anything else about HotSpots.

Isn't this the same thing that Boingo is doing?

• CygWin. The Linux-like environment for Windows.
  Mozilla. Use this for mail, news, and browsing if you like.
  Firebird. for FAST browsing.
  WS FTP Light. A FREE, FTP client that works great.
  Filezilla. which is TRULY free and does sftp as well.
  PuTTY. a free SSH client for Windows.
  TTSSH. is a much less clunky ssh client than PuTTY.
  iXplorer. freeware secure FTP client
  VNC hello!? remote controll software.
  Tight VNClike the original, only FAST.
  GNU-EMacs for Windows. just trust me ;).
  Dev-C++a free C++ compiler for those who can't afford VS.
  NetHack. as someone here said, you MUST have NetHack installed on everything...
  Free-AV.free Anti-Virus software for Windows, (mandatory these days). or
  AVG Free edition. another free Anti-Virus software for Windows.
  Zonealarm. my favorite Personal Firewall,, really!. or
  Kerio. another firewall that some seem to like. or
  Sygate. yet another firewall. whatever floats your boat.
  Boingo. to see where the closest hotspot is, hehe.
  OpenOffice 1.1 the Microsoft Office KILLER :) {really!}
  Winamp 2.x for audio/video usage in Windows, stay away from the new one :).
  Mark's Adding Machine is much better than the Windows calculator.
  SpyBot Search & Destroy The best Ad-ware / Spyware removal tool we've found, "IE is unusable without".
  Ad-Aware another spy-ware app "alas poor Windoze."
  Trillian a favorite IM, since we're all chatters @ heart. or
  GAIM since trillian hogs resources, "bad piggy!".
  Gimp image creation/editing. Who needs Photoshop anyway?
  EnZip freeware Zip Utility, Stop nagging you WinZip!!
  Iview is a great little image viewer. or
  Irfanviewone of the best image viewer out there for Windows.
  Audacity is a great little sound editor.
  Virtual Dub. a great video editor.
  cDex gotta rip those cd's for the RIAA!
  MAME for games, period. Free. You can buy some ROMs, or *ahem* ask around. and finally
  XPantiSPY since XP is E-V-I-L.

And FINALLY, don't trust me! Trust the experts;

Go to the Pricelessware site maintained by the alt.comp.freeware Usenet group.
The

Here is my top ten list (in no particular order) for Windows. I'll let everyone argue about the Linux tools.
CygWin the Linux-like environment for Windows.
Mozilla naturally.... Use this for mail, news, and browsing if you like.
WS FTP Light a FREE, FTP client that works great.
PuTTY a free SSH client for Windows.
VNC remote controll software, NOTE: the location is no longer on the ATT Labs UK site.
GNU-EMacs for Windows. I usually install it, but use Vi more.
Dev-C++ a free C++ compiler. I use VC++ 6.0, but this is free, and I think it's pretty good.
NetHack You MUST have NetHack installed on everything...
Free-AV free Anti-Virus software for Windows.
Boingo to see where the closest hotspot is. (free) you don't need the service.

In order to get at the top and note important things.

AT&T intel and such are doing Cometa Networks, planning for 20,000 hotspots by the end of 2002.

Cometa Networks

Argh. Saturate this.

The joltage system was a little fucked, they didn't have routers which could log access, you had to have two routers, aka DSL or Cable Modem, then router (i like blocking access on 1434 and such), then puter, then access point... this requires puter on all the time. Most dont leave their puter on this much. Boingo doesn't require a puter on but costs like 700 bucks!!!

boingo

You can also get dedicated wireless service from EarthLink. They're spreading wireless access points all over the place via their partnership with Boingo.

Boingo already started something similar quite a while ago. It's not clear from the story if they will be partners with Boingo or competitors. Any ideas, anybody?

Their coverage is pretty good in my area too. cool.