Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Italy Quake Rescuers Ask Locals To Unlock Their Wi-Fi (bbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the technology-barrier dept.

Rescue teams searching for earthquake survivors in central Italy have asked locals to unlock their Wifi passwords. The Italian Red Cross says residents' home networks can assist with communications during the search for survivors, reports BBC. From the report: On Wednesday a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy and killed more than 240 people. More than 4,300 rescuers are looking for survivors believed to still be trapped in the rubble. On Twitter, the Italian Red Cross posted a step-by-step guide which explains how local residents can switch off their Wifi network encryption. Similar requests have been made by the National Geological Association and Lazio Region. A security expert has warned that removing encryption from a home Wifi network carries its own risks, but added that those concerns are trivial in the context of the rescue operation.

3 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Do it, why not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe people have more important things to do than wanking about computer security after an earthquake happens?

  2. cyberanarchistic freedom by XXongo · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I do have to say I loved the old days, way way back in 2005, when people left their wifi unlocked as a matter of course, and if you needed a connection anywhere you happened to be, you could just open your laptop and grab any of the dozen open networks.

    Those good old days of cyberanarchistic freedom, gone forever now, I guess, but still fondly remembered.

  3. Re:I probably would, without hesitation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I already do, I even have a roof top access point (UniFi Outdoor+) to help w/signal propagation.. ssid: openwireless.org

    its on its own vlan with a very restrictive set of firewall rules that only let you use opendns servers w/some basic content filtering..

    I am in a cellular deadspot due to a hill, one bar if your lucky.. no data.. most of my neighbors use it and none of em can get a connection strong enough to come close to impacting my internet speeds.. so I dont even bother throttling em.

    Its a resource I have in abundance, why not share it?