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Cringely Proposes New WiFi Plan

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the nationwide-wifi-carriers dept.

DarkHelmet writes "This week, Cringely examines the current state of WiFi aggregators, and challenges their business model. His notion? An aggregator should distribute free equipment to internet users willing to share their connection. Although he proposes altered WiFi hardware specifically for his plan, his idea shows promise for a company with enough capital to provide all that free equipment."

2 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Can you say "exploitation"? by Moth7 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is just asking for the next major worm. If Joe Public can't configure his win box through a nice comfy GUI or update it now and again, he's going to have a hell of a time securing shared WiFi hardware. Sure, it would be nice to be able to say browse the web while waiting for a train or check your e-mail on the bus going into work. What however isn't so nice is the prospect of having your entire local area being compromised and being used as zombies in DDOS attacks and God knows what else. Maybe we should wait until they can protect their own boxes before trusting them as a gateway for someone elses?

  2. Re:already there... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Aren't you concerned that the feds are going to show up at your door because someone was downloading child porn on your connection and they think it was you?

    Seems you're assuming a lot of liability to me.