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Unfinished Windows 7 Hotspot Feature Exploited
An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Engadget: "It wasn't all that long ago that Microsoft was talking up the Virtual WiFi feature developed by Microsoft Research and set for inclusion in Windows 7, but something got lost along the road to release day, and the functionality never officially made it into the OS. As you might expect with anything as big and complicated as an operating system though, some of that code did make it into the final release, and there was apparently enough of it for the folks at Nomadio to exploit into a full fledged feature. That's now become Connectify, a free application from the company that effectively turns any Windows 7 computer into a virtual WiFi hotspot — letting you, for instance, wirelessly tether a number of devices to your laptop at location where only an Ethernet jack is available, or even tether a number of laptops together at a coffee shop that charges for WiFi."
Just like I could do on a Mac with the included OS since 2001.
Amirite?
Populus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur...
"Force shits upon Reason's back." - Poor Richard's Almanac
If these are undocumented APIs, then you can bet that they'll be removed or otherwise disabled in the first service pack.
Not surprising really. The secret formula for CokeCola is probably hidden in there too.
I wonder how many 'libraries of congress' could fit in the space occupied by unused but deployed windows code.
You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
I can do this with my HTC phone and don't even need to find an ethernet port to do it.
or even tether a number of laptops together at a coffee shop that charges for WiFi
That coffee shop has to pay for its connection, and bandwidth is a limited resource. Is Engadget going to instruct us on how to distract the employees while you pour free coffee into your thermos too?
I read the article and it does not make clear if it will work with any card.
I ask this because I was looking to do this some time ago (I want to connect my DS and Wii to internet using my existing PC as an access point) and, although there was some software (now discontinued) that allowed you to do that on WIndows, and on Linux you had to spend your time with ifconfig and whatnot (it was never clear for me, but the first step was to change your wifi card to AP mode).
Thus I wonder if this Vista feature would make it possible use the computer as an AP with all types of wireless cards.
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
No. OSX does not allow you to use a single wireless card for both 1) connecting to a wireless network, and 2) broadcasting itself as a hotspot.
Windows has had Internet Sharing since the 90's (oh dear, did Apple not invent that feature?!). The new feature here is virtualizing the wireless card so it behaves as though it's two wireless cards. Try that on any version of OSX and let me know how it goes.
Is that similar to the Internet Connection Sharing that Windows has had since (at least) Windows 95?
Yes and no, Windows ICS is only DHCP/NAT software. OSX Internet Sharing also allows you to configure your Wifi card into access point mode. Connectify is promising to allow you to run Windows wifi cards in access-point mode WHILE using it in regular structured mode... which seems like a dubious claim. The makers of Connectify haven't yet listed which cards they are going to support.
In short
Never mind, they list the cards they are trying to support
http://connectify.me/docs/
Now slow down a minute.
My very first laptop that I purchased back in 2003 could do this, and it was running Windows XP. I used this feature almost every day in the dorms to put up a wireless network with Internet so that we could have some small lan parties. The Internet was a little slow with a huge group of people using a single connection, but it worked really well. This feature worked naively in Windows XP and didn't require an additional software or special tinkering, you just had link the Ethernet to the wireless port. It also worked in reverse (You just had to swap a check box), but I never had the opportunity to try it.
What this feature does (in addition to that) is reshare a wifi connection with a single wifi card. That way 1 person could pay for the wireless Internet, and then immediately reshare it on the same computer.
Just because you didn't know a windows machine could do it, doesn't mean it can't. Apple is not the foundation of all ideas when it comes to computers. Sometimes Microsoft gets something right too.
I swear I've been doing this with linux for years, routing this and routing that...
It's just two interfaces, an echo "1" to the ip_forward, and a little masquerading and we're good to go.
Windows 7 is cool though. Wish they kept the "E" edition.
~@~
Didn't we have this app in an article last week?
It's not news. It's olds at best.
One of these days, I am going to flip out. When I flip out, I'll be back in five minutes.
This has been standard and expected functionality in Linux for years; practically as long as wi-fi cards have been supported. Why the hell is this news? Microsoft didn't even complete the support, it's a third party hack... This is worse than the claim that Aero Glass was revolutionary.
Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once
If you did actually bother to read the actual article you would find the correct answer to your question is no. This isn't ICS with WiFi in ad-hoc mode, this turns windows into an infrastructure access point.
No sig, sorry.
What is the difference between this and creating an ad-hoc network and enabling internet connection sharing for the physical port in Vista (and XP, and OS X, and Linux)?
They were vigilant about blocking mailinator domains, so if you just want the direct link to download: http://www.connectify.me/a103dk/ConnectifyInstaller.exe Or visit: http://www.connectify.me/thanks.html
When modding "Informative", please make sure it both has a source and IS actually informative.
Time zone differences?
This is not the funny you're looking for.
This software is nicer than that, it is using the same wireless hardware to connect to the internet and to offer the access point.
Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
Connectify is promising to allow you to run Windows wifi cards in access-point mode WHILE using it in regular structured mode... which seems like a dubious claim.
Nope, a lot of wireless cards out there do support this in theory. Of course, you have to run both on the same channel.
Why a "virtual" hotspot? What's virtual about it? If this turns a Windows PC into a Wi-Fi access point, then surely that's a hotspot plain and simple?
you know, when I hear of a windows feature being "exploited" the utilization of a useful feature is not what comes to mind.
Is that similar to the Internet Connection Sharing that Windows has had since (at least) Windows 95?
ICS Came out in Windows 98R2
Or maybe they're just ahead of their time. This feature is obviously intended for Windows 8 only.
(Offtopic)
Re: your sig -
Did you run out of characters or glitch Alex S's name?
My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine
Sounds like MS actually finished a feature that would make Windows 7 more valuable than XP (I haven't found another one). But of course they had to cut it out because some of their customers would lose revenue because they currently rely on over-charging for WiFi.
This is just yet another example of why we need this functionality in Linux TODAY, and why we all need to switch to Linux IMMEDIATELY.
These corporations are all sucking the life blood out of technology just to make a couple extra bucks, and stifling our advancement as a species for monetary gain. It's absolutely disgusting and embarrassing.
I hold very few opinions. I hold information based on observation and fact. If you wish to disagree, please use facts.
They are also planning on selling the software when it leaves beta. Which may very well wind up being a very short life-span indeed, considering the only reason it wasn't enabled in Win7 was driver support. One could reasonably expect driver-support for the native code will be forthcoming by Win7 SP1.
So this feature was created by Microsoft Research back in 2005, and has been available for download ever since: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/994abd5f-53d1-4dba-a9d8-8ba1dcccead7/
I fail to see how this is news, they included it by default in Win 7 and someone accessed it, yay. This has been doable for 4 years...
The resulting Connectify differs from the Internet connection sharing that Windows already supports via an "ad hoc" network connection, which lets several Windows computers share a single connection. "For one thing, it shows up as a real wireless access point," Gizis said. "Two, Internet connection sharing has issues. It returns to the default settings every time you shut down a connection. And three, you can join another wireless network and still run the Connectify Hotspot on the same Wi-Fi card."
One application came immediately to mind, Gizis continued. "You're sitting in a coffee shop that charges you for a wireless connection. With Connectify, I can pay for that connection, and still have all my other devices, like my iPhone, connected to the Internet."
It's odd you should say this, because I've had a Windows guru/sysadmin try several times to get this working (with his Dell running XP), and every time he's given up after about 45 minutes of messing with configuration settings. I myself tried it on both of my work-issued PCs (an HP and a Lenovo, both running XP) and found it completely impossible. Of the many Windows users I know, none have ever successfully used their laptop as an AP or a reverse bridge (providing connectivity over ethernet from a single wireless connection).
Therefore, you are either lying, or a statistical anomaly. I trust you're recounting the story accurately, so I'm going to conclude that your success is the exception rather than the rule.
A cat is no trade for integrity!
The software is running two networks across the same radio (one of which is an access point).
Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
... that an OS was just released with incomplete, unimplemented, undocumented, untested code? Has that ever happened in the history of computing before? This sounds incredible! Maybe MS can get a patent on it!
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Daylight Savings.
I drank what? -- Socrates
"These older devices are known to be compatible:
Intel 5100/5300 (with latest drivers from Intel's site, version 13.0.0.107)
Ralink RT2870 (in many 802.11n USB dongles)
Broadcom 4310-series (in many Dell laptops)
Realtek RTL8187SE (with the drivers that came with Windows 7)
D-link AirPlus G DWL-G510 Wireless PCI Adapter (driver version 3.0.1.0)
Dell 5520 (builtin many Dell laptops)
Atheros AR5007EG with 8.0.0.238 firmware
These older devices are known to be incompatible:
Intel 3945/4965,2200BG (most Intel cards, unfortunately)
Realtek RTL8187 (like in older 802.11bg USB dongles)
Zydas ZD1211 (also in 802.11bg USB dongles)
Broadcom 4320-series (in many Dell laptops)
Atheros AR9285 (likely others too)
D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G122
Mac Book Builtin Broadcom devices"
Obi-Wan: "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were sudden
Well no wonder it got removed! What a stupid feature! I mean it kinda sounds neat but my spare wireless router is about 5x smaller and 20x lighter than even my smallest laptop. I'd rather stick that in my pocket than lug around an entire computer.
Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
any unix machine can do this, like a billion years ago.
"Ninety percent of everything is crud." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon's_law
But, in light of the above adage, when they are selling a $5 cup of of coffee, it sure seems to be the way to bet.
There is no right to feel safe thru security vaudeville at the expense of everyone's freedom, privacy and tax money.
I must have... I'll go back and remove a space so that it fits.
Learn about Photography Basics.
Expect the next release of the EULA to say something like any future and unknown at the moment uses of the operating system or its APIs that MS doesn't approve of at some future date, become automatic EULA violations even if those uses are unknown at the time the end user first agreed to the EULA.
In the past, I have also successfully used a PC running XP Professional to put a wireless adapter in soft-ap mode and bridge it with a wired ethernet connection. I used this to allow my Nintendo DS to connect to the Internet because at the time I did not have a wireless access point and it worked fairly well.
If I remember correctly I had to use a specific set of drivers for the wifi card that supported soft-ap mode and then it was a simple matter of selecting both network connections and telling Windows to bridge them.
Does this mean Intel has been "exploiting" Windows Virtual WiFi with the "My WiFi" feature on their 5000 series WiFi adapters all this time?
Old news, it's absolutely not an exploit or some hack and has already been in use by Intel for months if not the past year.
Intel has a very similar tech called MyWifi in their newer cards, it uses Windows ICS so it differs in implementation, but does offer a full AP mode while being connected to an external wifi network.
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10139172-100.html
Even when MS do something right for once, the FOSS shills here will still find a way to use emotive language and completely change the meaning of the title and summary.
Welcome to /.
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Homer: Pfft. I know a genuine Panaphonics when I see it. And look, there's Magnetbox and Sorny.
--
"Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
I know it's technically possible. Actually, some cards could support separate channels. It's unlikely that this will ever work reliably though.
Apple has only used 4 wifi chipsets and officially supports the feature, so they can actually support features like this reliably. If you look at the list of "supported" cards for Connectify, you see you have to have certain revisions of firmware for the card to be supported... it's likely this is going to break between driver releases.
http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2006/09/free_public_wif.html. points out that any time you connect to a WiFi SSID, your laptop will then appear to be hosting an adhoc SSID of the same name.... weird but true, at least on XP, and explains why I see so many "Free Public WiFi" adhoc mode SSIDs almost anywhere, including on trains where I know there is no official WiFi hotspot. Most of these are probably not hackers trying to do a MITM attack, since this is something XP does automatically.
Does Windows 7 do the same thing?
Relativistic effects.
Most human behaviour can be explained in terms of identity.
Now available in GUI
Copyright office allows you to claim copyright for the following year for works published in the last few months of a year.
I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
He needs meds.
Do you possess a license to practice psychiatry & to dispense such diagnoses? No?? Didn't think so. Did you perform a formal psychiatric examination on myself to come up with your "sidewalk surgeon/quack" immediate "prognosis/diagnosis"???
Yeah well, you just make it easy... Somewhere in your hateful screeds you dropped a couple of clues.
Or maybe the next day posting 'Pwned by an AC' and linking to your earlier rants.
Nobody said WHAT you have, but it's obvious you have some mental deficiency.
Sue me bitch.
If I have multiple clients connected to my access point and using my internet, can I sniff their traffic somehow?
Attacking you libelously gives some lawyer its wings, or something like that.
Was that post long enough? You could have ranted on about some Microsoft thing longer... I didn't see anything connecting me with the Illuminati, or the guys broadcasting mind control rays into your fillings. You're obviously not seeing the big picture.
But yes, you cleverly placed me as symbolset's sock-puppet. He cleverly opened this Slashdot account years previous to his main account, and made thousands of unrelated postings, just to build a false front of trust. But then, basking in the glory of his own genius he posts an insult to you from the wrong account and you finally put together all the pieces. Well done, you're one step closer to the ultimate truth!
Get some meds.