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Disney World Goes 802.11b
LighthouseJ writes "Over at CNN they report that Disney World in Florida has a 47-square mile 802.11b wireless LAN through the park with 200 access points. The move comes after visitors complaints that they couldn't use credit cards at every place in the park. Plus, it allows "cast members" to offer guests goods and services anywhere, not restricted to where the credit card machine is at. The man responsible, Murshid S. Khan, Director of Telecommunications and Technology Support sees this as a valuable technology, citing mobility and flexibility as the main reasons for the switch.
Khan goes on to say that the system is protected by a 128-bit encryption scheme and software installed to detect intrusions.
When he was asked if visitors will have access to the wireless network, CNN quotes him to say: 'We need you to come to the park and enjoy the park,' he said. 'If we start opening Internet cafes, you won't do that.' He's a smart man." So, running AirSnort wouldn't probably be the best idea? *grin*
Before they get cracked and decide this was not a good idea?
Do really dense people warp space more than others?
There are things the user could use besides surf the web. For instance, a little app on your wireless device that let you check the length of lines at the rides, the reservations at a restaurant etc.
Still, just as is, it is cool.
They say they have "software" that detects intrusions. That doesn't seem to imply much about tracking you down to the square foot.
OTOH, I don't recall ever seeing a laptop, so you'll stick out like a sore thumb unless you're in the bathroom with a PDA.
They do search bags currently. ALL bags, even diaper bags.
Also, there's an active Linux community among their IT people. There are definitely pockets of clue there, and it's likely that would extend to their IT security people as well.
While on my honeymoon in DisneyWorld this year, my wife and I took quite a few of their Behind the Scenes tours. On the Epcot one, we found out why Disney will most likely never let people have 'Net access in their parks. (At least not in public places.)
Our tour guide said that they actually did have a kiosk there a few years back that let people browse the web and check their web-based e-mail. He checked on the kiosk once and found that some pervert had left up a XXX e-mail and changed the wallpaper. He wouldn't elaborate on what it was, but he said it shocked even him.
Luckily for them, they were able to remove the offensive material before anyone noticed. Still, as a place that bills itself as "family-friendly," they simply can't take the risk that it would happen again (and more high profile).
Our tour guide kept the possibility open that they would resume 'Net access with some types of safeguards against this, but no safeguard is 100%. Public Internet access is just not a high-priority item for Disney. (Believe me, there's so much to do at Disney World, that you won't have time to browse the Net.) The PR risks of another abuse far outweigh any customer gains.
My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
I took note of their network over a year and half ago when I went there with my Highschool senior class.
/w 802.11b card and go to work.
I noticed the cash registers were connected to an 802.11b network.. also, I spotted some computers as well.
I didn't have an 802.11b card at the time, and my only laptop had suffered a terrible accident.. so I wasn't able to do any 'diagnostics', but I thought it was interesting. Maybe next time I'll bring my PowerBook
See, you don't need to worry about getting into the park with your laptop.. Because this also extends to their hotels and probably their on-site buses as well.
They should rent out wireless digital cameras, whenever a pic is taken its upload via 802.11 and before they leave the park, the got prints of the family vacation.
Also a previous article said it would be used to play music around the park based on location. IMHO, kinda of a waste for just CC's.
"Get them before they get....
I've been there multiple times over the course of the year (annual passes are great things) and I remember the kiosks the guide was talking about. They were still up the last time I was there, but they were whitelisted. Meaning that only the websites that Disney had approved were allowed, anything else not on their list was automatically blocked. The whitelisting seemed to work quite well. Interestingly enough, Slashdot was readable, so I guess someone in the Internet department at WDW likes his news for nerds.
Residing in europe for some time now (hmm, since I was born ? 8) I can tell you this is old stuff.
Every (most) credit card are smartcard for 15 years in France. The credit card machine is in fact an autonomous code checker. It won't transmit your code on the air, but check it locally, then make a confirmation number that encrypt the acceptation code and your card references.
this number is either send remotely for acceptation by the central bank computer (above $500) or just locally accepts if the amount is small.
thoses devices existed before in Infrared transmission, and now use local radio link.
This allows a faster and more secure way than just the stupid magnetic strip...
Hoping to read from you 8)
It takes 40+ muscles to frown, but only four to extend your arm and bitchslap the motherfucker
Compromised? How long until somebody drops a jammer in a trash can? Talk about pissed-off customers.
'Course, I'm totally clueless about the jam-resistance qualities of 802.11. I suppose that it's actually pretty hard to disrupt the signal with interference, otherwise it wouldn't make a terribly good wireless protocol...
--Fesh
Kill -9 'em all, let root@localhost sort 'em out.
More info to be found at http://www.computerworld.com/storyba/0,4125,NAV47_ STO65816,00.html . They mention that it involves "128 bit encryption", which certainly leads one to think 128b WEP, but remain cagey about further security- I'll vager VPN. One thing that did catch my eye was the guest tracking. They propose the innocuous example of insuring guests have all returned to a cruise ship- but I think that sets a dangerous precedent...
;)
Anyone else see Westworld/Futureworld?
Thermowax
Actually, my 2.4ghz cordless phone does a real nice job jamming my 802.11 network. ;-)
http://kered.org
It is ok with regulation. I work at an isp which is looking at deploying an 802.11b network. We have an amplifier on it. I don't know how good for our health it is, but i've stood next the the antenna for extended periods of time with no apparent problem.
Otherwise there will be dead spots. Roller coasters tend to obstruct radio waves.
When I worked at Incredible Universe before it got bought ca. 1996-1997. We had wireless "Telxon" pads that worked as portable terminals for scanning in customer orders. There were times where we would have to stand on a chair and point them at antennas to get them to work. I guess the visible metal warehouse style ceilings caused problems as well as all of the electronic stuff running.
If I'm not mistaken one of the engineers of the system tried warning the French government that it was possible to make a smart-card that could be fake; ie: not really "filled" with real money. Nobody would listen so he finally made one, bought some subway tickets and mailed them to the government proving that it could be done.
Then they threw him in jail for stealing the subway tickets. Anybody else remember this or have more info on it?
>They do search bags currently. ALL bags, even diaper bags.
Maybe, but not very well. For the past three of the four times I have been there since Sept 11 (my girlfriend and I have season passes) I was able to walk around the security stands without even being noticed. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why they search the bags, yet do nothing to search the person. A couple of shootings at Disney would demoralize the US more than shootings pretty much anywhere else. An entire AK-47 can be broken down into pieces that fit in a pants leg or under a large sweatshirt. Everything of destructive power that is carried in a bag can be carried on one's person. Thay are pretty clueless about technology anyway. I often take in my nightvision scope (a lot of neat things to see in Space Mountain, Spaceship Earth, and Pirates of the Caribean) and didn't even get a second look yet they made me disassemble my Camelbak water pouch. I don't know if they would stop a laptop or not. One can claim it is for download pictures or showing Disney DVDs to the kids at dinner when they get tired and cranky.
Cave, wreck, and deep diver.