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Sophos Researcher Suggests Password 'Free' to Spur Wi-Fi Encryption

Posted by timothy on from the has-some-drawbacks dept.

An anonymous reader writes "In the wake of concerns about FireSheep sniffing credentials from people using unencrypted public WiFi hotspots, a security researcher has proposed that the problem does not just lie with big websites like Facebook, but also with those who provide free wireless internet access. Chet Wisniewski, a researcher at security firm Sophos, proposes that all free WiFi hotspots should be encrypted — with the password 'free.' ''I propose standard adoption of WPA2 and a default password of "free." Whenever you wish to connect to complimentary WiFi, you select "Courtyard Marriott" or "Starbucks" like you always have, but you are then prompted for a password. Just type "free". It's not hard. In fact, operating system vendors could even program your PC to automatically try the password "free" before prompting you for a password on the assumption that you might be selecting a free service.'"

3 of 332 comments (clear)

  1. fu@cker by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Join GGNA (GAY

  2. Pew Research Center is touting a relatively new fo by EdwardC · · Score: 0, Offtopic


    This mind you about how The Pew Research Center is touting a relatively new form of poll bias called the &ldquo;<a title="Election 2010 and the Cell phone Impact" href=" http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/11/02/cell-phone-effect-election-2010/">cell phone impact</a>,&rdquo; and based on the New York Times, it will impact Election 2010. As the NY Times puts it, about a quarter of American adults use mobile phones exclusively. As many poll individuals don't call cell phones, Pew believes that the results could be skewed by as much as four points.

  3. Re:Ridiculous And Totally Not Helpful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I don't know about minority groups. I would tend to avoid Negroes but is that fair?

    Some Negroes are okay but even so, as a matter of personal preference, I prefer the company
    of Whites and Asians. That's just me. I certainly wouldn't suggest that anyone make their
    choices based on my preferences. Hopefully everyone will be allowed to decide what racial
    groups they like and which groups they don't like on their own, all without fear of being labeled "racist".
    I think that kind of world of free choice and association is the kind of world we would all like
    to live in.