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Responsible Wireless Access For Your Access Point

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the accessability-and-sanity dept.

bgood writes: "O'Reilly Network has an interesting article on authentication for wireless networks. The author discusses both the technical aspects, specifically NoCatAuth, and the overall context of why someone would choose (or not choose) to monitor or track the use of their wireless network. While geared towards network neighborhoods, the article definitely has applicability in more formal settings."

3 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What would also be nice by morcheeba · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I would gladly open up my wireless network, but the firewall/switch/access point puts the wireless network on my side of the firewall. That kindof defeats the whole purpose of the firewall - Sure it's secure from 99.999% of the internet, but people can get in via wireless. Ideally, I'd like to manage the rules between the wireless part and my wired desktop computer, but I guess that would require the purchase of a real firewall. It's a shame; it would just take a little more software!!

    --
    HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets
  2. Requires HTTP and a human by Animats · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Something that requires the use of HTTP and human intervention just to get IP-level access is no good. Your laptop can't connect itself up and poll for mail without manual intervention. Back to the drawing board.

  3. Liability by Cato · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The biggest issue for freenets, IMO, is liability - if someone wanders past your access point and sends a huge amount of spam, or starts a DoS attack on remote sites, you may well find your ISP cuts off your access. In the worst case, you might be legally liable under various anti-spam or other laws.

    Just as ISPs have contracts with their customers, and authenticate them, it may end up being necessary to have contracts with your freenet users and to authenticate them. Of course, if they are friends it may be enough to just authenticate them... IANAL but something that indemnifies you against lawsuits etc would be very useful.

    This goes against the freenet ideal but unfortunately providing Internet access can be a legal minefield.