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Worldwide WarDrive Aftermath
wardriver writes "The event took place on August 31st 2002, people from around the world took part in the effort to document and make known wireless access points as a group. Some people go WarDriving everyday, so this was just like an normal day for many who attended any of the world wide events as documented on the results page. Hardware ranged from laptops, to car mounted computer systems, to handhelds all equipped with GPS devices to accurately map the spots. Cars were marked with )(WarDriver stickers and people were sporting their wardriving is not a crime t-shirts. All in all the event went well and with enough pressure and requests to chris it may happen again." And in a related story, Dr_Marvin_Monroe writes "Wardrivers be warned---- A Practical Approach to
Identifying and Tracking
Unauthorized 802.11 Cards
and Access Points includes information on locating rogue access points and intruders."
It should be known that there are cards that can "just listen" without letting themselves be known.
;)
Cisco makes the AIR-LMC350 which would be a good choice for wardrivers.
Or, not being an idiot administrator and leaving everything open helps too
Get paid to code OSS
I went for a low-tech version of this event.
Knock knock
"Anybody home?"
Try door.
"This one's locked, next house!"
Nicky nicky nine doors is fun...except for the old codger sitting on his front porch on a rocker with a shotgun full of rock salt...
John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
If by "worldwide" they mean "a few counties in California, Canada, and bits of the midwest," then the project was an amazing success. :)
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
"wardriving is not a crime t-shirts...
You got to admit that people aren't doing themselves any favours by choosing a real positive expression like "wardriving"....
I can see this must win real friends when you are explaining to companies what you are doing outside their offices. Especially in countries where vigilante groups /gangsters like cruising round in their autos. Great PR, guys :-)
(Yeah yeah I know the origin of the term but I still think it sucks.. maybe try cruising round New York on 11th September and explain to a cop that you're war driving...)
I understand that some people invite others onto their network. This is very generous (but in my opinion insane because YOU are responsible for what comes out of YOUR router), but shouldn't these people advertise that their network is open instead of people driving around trying to discover these access points? I think the concept of wardriving is interesting, but the practical ethical results of wardriving efforts seem very very few. Maybe there is some application I am missing. Feel free to enlighten me
psxndc
The emacs religion: to be saved, control excess.
hillct wrote:
> It boggles the mind that so many administrators
> unintentionally leave their wireless networks open
> and available
It doesn't boggle anything when you get off you geeky high horse and realize that most people buying and installing wireless network equipment are not "administrators" of any sort. They are ordinary people who don't know a thing about network security, but just need a net to work. The only thing that boggles the mind is that you would rationalize preying upon their ignorance.
The manufacturers hold one key to solving this. If they would make the configuration of these networks secure by default, and give people easy to understand instructions for enabling security: "Yes, I want to make my network safe from invading hordes of young hoodlums.", it would help.
"Godzilla and Jaguar: Punch! Punch! Punch! Hit! Hit! Hit!
We die if they stop fighting for us."
Jet Jaguar Song, "Godzilla vs. Megalon"