Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

EFF And Others Push For Open Wifi APs Everywhere

Posted by Unknown on from the feels-so-dirty dept.

netbuzz writes "Forging ahead with an initiative that proved controversial when introduced last year, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and nine other groups today are advancing the Open Wireless Movement to encourage ubiquitous sharing of Internet access. 'We envision a world where sharing one's Internet connection is the norm,' said EFF Activist Adi Kamdar, in a press release. 'A world of open wireless would encourage privacy, promote innovation, and benefit the public good, giving us network access whenever we need it. And everyone — users, businesses, developers, and Internet service providers — can get involved to help make it happen.'"

11 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. First... by Mitreya · · Score: 5, Funny

    We envision a world where sharing one's Internet connection is the norm,' said EFF Activist Adi Kamdar, in a press release. 'A world of open wireless would encourage privacy, promote innovation, and benefit the public good, giving us network access whenever we need it.

    The person sharing their connection has to NOT be concerned with being successfully sued.
    Some judges realize that IP != person, others do not.

    I lived with roommates, and it was somewhat of a concern that the "owner" of the internet account will be the one responsible for anything that may get tied to that IP address.

    1. Re:First... by hawkinspeter · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I currently run an open wireless SSID as a guest connection and I am not concerned with being sued. Here in the UK, I don't think the law has yet been tested that you are held liable for someone else's actions. To my mind, if there's something suspicious about what "my" IP address is downloading, then they have to find proof that I'm responsible (e.g. files on my computer).

      It's so easy these days to set up a secure internal wireless network and also a guest open network with appropriate bandwidth limits that I'm surprised that more people don't do it. I'm not concerned if people are freeloading as long as my connection isn't noticeably slowed down. I've got unlimited bandwidth, so why should I care if someone uses a little bit of it?

      So far, I've not seen anyone camping outside my house so that they can download stuff and I've not noticed any high usage, so I think that most people tend to be reasonable with freely offered services.

      --
      You're a temporary arrangement of matter sliding towards oblivion in a cold, uncaring universe
    2. Re:First... by ls671 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Forget about QoS, qdisc with htb for example work fine for that use case. You need to use queues, QoS typically only works on your LAN if your devices honor it. Most providers do not care about the QoS flags you set. Sometimes, setting QoS flags have the opposite effect than one might expect once the packet on your provider side. I do not bother setting QoS flags.

      I started to use queues to enhance VOIP calls and it works perfectly. I then extended it for all kind of use cases, sharing a connection being one of them. Understanding how IP works helps a lot in managing this. /sbin/tc qdisc add dev $DEV root handle 1: htb default 0x10
      etc...

      see: man tc (traffic control)

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
    3. Re:First... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I do. If I didn't have a reason to be concerned I'd free my connection. If I had the time to setup my router to work as a guest access point and force users through Tor I'd definitely do it. I certainly promote others providing such access and do contribute to Tor as a node.

    4. Re:First... by Tokolosh · · Score: 5, Insightful

      most people tend to be reasonable with freely offered services.

      Yes, most people are responsible. It is that other small percentage that is the problem.

      I submit that the unreasonable percentage is vanishingly small. I am sick and tired of the child molester trope. If all systems were open (and mine has been wide open for years), then we would not be discussing this nonsense. Grow a pair, America!

      Spartacus

      --
      Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
  2. So long as... by pongo000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...the EFF is willing to back me up with unlimited legal support when the FBI comes knocking at my door because my next door neighbors turn out to be pedos, I'm all for it.

  3. Bandwidth no longer unlimited? by Rossman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How do they think this will work in a world where we're all getting dinged for bandwidth? If connections were still unlimited, great, but otherwise this is a bit of a non-starter.

  4. Re:No. by Spy+Handler · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's the point. If everybody opened their WiFi AP, then an IP address will become meaningless as a way of identifying a person to arrest or sue.

    It'll never happen though, what's to stop all the neighborhood leeches from freeloading off my cable modem and save themselves $50 a month?

  5. Re:No. by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It'll never happen though, what's to stop all the neighborhood leeches from freeloading off my cable modem and save themselves $50 a month?

    Bandwidth limits on unknown users. If all they need to do is check their email and read the web, then you could have 20 such leeches and never really notice it.

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  6. ISP by Dan+East · · Score: 5, Funny

    And everyone — users, businesses, developers, and Internet service providers — can get involved to help make it happen.

    That just made an executive at an ISP laugh really, really hard.

    --
    Better known as 318230.
  7. Safer than you think (I ran an Open AP before) by ron_ivi · · Score: 5, Interesting
    It's not as risky as you might think.

    When I lived in SF I set up my home network to provide free wireless to the coffee shop at the end of the block.

    QOS routing prevented guest bandwidth from interfering with my own. I put the wireless thing outside my firewall to protect my network.

    Occasional casual monitoring suggested that no-one abused the network from either a bandwidth or content point of view. And the only thing it had protecting it was a "please don't abuse this or I'll take it down" welcome message.

    TL/DR: Most people are basically good, so it (like wikipedia) works and isn't abused as much as you might thing..