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802.11b Network Scanning In London And Amsterdam

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the brief-window-of-opportunity dept.

jbrw writes: "Beware of cat skulls in sombreros! Bicycle + laptop + gps unit + 80I.11 magic = WarPeddlaz, currently scanning London. Replacing the bike with a canal boat, and you have the WarFloataz in Amsterdam. Pics, info and raw scan data available at free2air.org." Some amusingly altered photos in here, too. Now that I have an 802.11 card working, this is getting even more interesting.

7 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Slashdotted already? by Rackemup · · Score: 3, Redundant

    someone should really warn these smaller sites that they're about to be posted on Slashdot.. their max-users is probably set to 20.

  2. Free 802.11 Networks by The+Jake · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I just recently set up a Linksys BEFW11S4 router with wireless access in my apartment.

    Shortly after I set it up, I found a guy using my network via the wireless access point. At first, I was fine with it, but I realized quickly that this wasn't some guy passing on a bike, but rather someone in the same apartment building.

    I tracked him down, and told him that I wasn't in the business of providing free internet to the entire building. Now he pays half the DSL cost. Not a bad deal.

    The point is this: I still leave my network open. Anyone wandering by is free to use my 802.11 network. In fact, the settings are such that anyone with a computer set up to connect to the local university's wiress network will get a connection here.

    The lesson learned: keep your network open. Smile when some wandering soul conencts for a while. Unless you've got your own T3, though, you better make sure someone isn't getting free, continued, high speed internet, at your expense.

  3. Possible Misuse by bstadil · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What about misuse. Unless you keep excellent log files you might find yourselves in a lot of trouble if the next CodeRed get launched from your IP number. I am not saying this is a reason not to leave it open, just a reminder that it unfortunately has a flip side.

    --
    Help fight continental drift.
    1. Re:Possible Misuse by ZoneGray · · Score: 3, Informative

      For that matter, be careful what you do if you connect to an open wireless network.

      It would be simple to set up an access point, leave it open, and sniff traffic of whoever connects. If nothing else, I'd think you could collect POP passwords pretty easily.

  4. Anti-slashdotting setup perchance? by shermozle · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Since /. kills many many sites with interesting stuff on them every time it links to them but is unwilling to cache the pages because the lawyers run the show there, how about Google?

    Slashdot should organise with Google to cache the page as they approve a post. Google grabs the site before the hoards and next to the real link /. posts the google cache URL?

  5. Improving 802.11b security by nsayer · · Score: 3, Informative
    For what it's worth, my page at FreeBSD has some instructions on how to set up PPPoE and/or PPTP on a FreeBSD server to use as a way to secure a wireless LAN.

    People may find my wireless LAN -- they may even DHCP an IP address from it, but they won't be able to actually do anything once they do. :-)

  6. Re:slashdot counter-measures implemented? by jbrw · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'd be that SMSing person...

    We're juggling like made here at the moment. Just opening up the firewall a touch so we can move the database on to a beefier machine.

    I guess we'll add to our woes by posting some of the traffic graphs once it's calmed down a little.