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Planet Fitness Evacuated After WiFi Network Named 'Remote Detonator' Causes Scare (windsorstar.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the false-alarm dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Windsor Star: A Michigan gym patron looking for a Wi-Fi connection found one named "remote detonator," prompting an evacuation and precautionary search of the facility by a bomb-sniffing dog. The Saginaw News reports nothing was found in the search Sunday at Planet Fitness in Saginaw Township, about 85 miles (140 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. Saginaw Township police Chief Donald Pussehl says the patron brought the Wi-Fi connection's name to the attention of a manager, who evacuated the building and called police. The gym was closed for about three hours as police responded. Pussehl says there's "no crime or threat," so no charges are expected. He notes people often have odd names for WiFi connections. Planet Fitness says the manager was following company procedure for when there's suspicion about a safety issue.

88 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. WiFi names? by whoever57 · · Score: 1

    What's the craziest name for a WiFI network that you have used or seen?

    --
    The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
    1. Re:WiFi names? by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I have to admit, I always liked "FBI SURVEILLANCE VAN #34" or something similar.

    2. Re:WiFi names? by mschuyler · · Score: 1

      That's the name of my network. The only person who ever noticed it (and told me) was my grandson.

      --
      How about a moderation of -1 pedantic.
    3. Re:WiFi names? by DarkVader · · Score: 2

      I used to have a neighbor with "ICanHearYouFucking".

    4. Re:WiFi names? by Moheeheeko · · Score: 1

      ive used "RIAA Monitor Node" for years.

    5. Re:WiFi names? by turp182 · · Score: 1

      I've got McNet and Mead nearby right now. It's urban, about 25 connections at this time. There's also one called "getoffmyinternet".

      Nothing too crazy, but not bad for right at this moment.

      --
      BlameBillCosby.com
    6. Re:WiFi names? by erice · · Score: 1

      I use "Malware Depot" for my mobile hotspot.

    7. Re:WiFi names? by vux984 · · Score: 2

      Best one I've ever seen...

      HideYourKidsHideYourWifi

    8. Re:WiFi names? by TharMonk · · Score: 2

      I used to have a neighbor with "ICanHearYouFucking".

      You need to rename yours to "ILikeItWhenYouListen"

    9. Re:WiFi names? by PPH · · Score: 2

      Abraham Linksys

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    10. Re:WiFi names? by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Strangelove's Doomsday Device.

    11. Re:WiFi names? by jtara · · Score: 1

      You're WAY down on the totem pole.

      FBI SURVEILLANCE VAN #1 is right down the street from me!

    12. Re:WiFi names? by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Nothing really spectacularly crazy in my neighborhood right now. I'm seeing Ravenplume, Crow's Fan (those two are mine), Lily, Bodyparts, FbiSurveillanceVan1, and then assorted default named routers that keep popping into and out of existence.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    13. Re: WiFi names? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      My mom was having issues with the encryption on her wireless network, so I set it to no paraphrase so I could get her a new router (a few days while it came in the mail). In the meantime I set her wireless SSID to "disabled" and told her "nobody will try to connect to it, because of that name."

      She called me a couple times a day to tell me "my wireless isn't working - because it says disabled" even though she could open a browser and get online.

      Lesson learned. Thanks mom!

    14. Re:WiFi names? by ckatko · · Score: 2

      I used: VIRUS DETECTED

      for awhile

    15. Re:WiFi names? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      My fave:

      8====D

    16. Re:WiFi names? by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 5, Funny

      Mine is GetOffMyLANKids.

    17. Re:WiFi names? by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 1

      Some time ago my neighbour called me in a bit of a panic, he was being surveilled by the FBI! He's a bit of a crook so this wasn't too far-fetched for him, but in this case it was just him seeing one of my more creatively-named SSIDs...

    18. Re:WiFi names? by martinX · · Score: 1

      2.4 GHz network: Surveillance Van 24
      5.0 GHz network: Hawaii50

      --
      When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
    19. Re:WiFi names? by Kelerei · · Score: 2

      Someone in my apartment block had "It Hurts When IP"

    20. Re:WiFi names? by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately my neighbors have no imagination, all networks in the area use standard names or thinks like "[name of the guy] network"

      --
      Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
    21. Re:WiFi names? by mea_culpa · · Score: 1

      When I had crappy DSL my wifi name was "Everyday I'm Bufferin"

      Other favorites:

      Nacho Wifi
      This LAN is your LAN
      Bill Wi the Science Fi
      NSA Drone Command
      Taco Bell

    22. Re:WiFi names? by Sumus+Semper+Una · · Score: 2

      I originally named mine "Oh, we don't have wifi" simply so I could have an amusingly confused conversation when guests ask "what's your wifi network?" I later named mine "What's wifi?" so I could have an even more confusing "who's on first?" style conversation.

      Yes, I am kind of a dick.

    23. Re:WiFi names? by arth1 · · Score: 1

      Mine is called "Searching..."

      Caught a few people with that one.

      How do you know?

    24. Re:WiFi names? by valentyn · · Score: 1

      I'm using Unicode to get an upside down text. (Unfortunately, Slashdot seems not to want to show it, but see here https://www.fileformat.info/convert/text/upside-down.htm?text=upsidedown). As a bonus, it is a passwordless AP but uses a modern way of upside-down-ternet (see https://openoffice.nl/2016/01/01/upside-downternet/ for a howto) to flip any non-https-page.

      --
      my other sig is a 500 page novel
    25. Re:WiFi names? by myth24601 · · Score: 1

      Like everyone else here, I am my parent's tech support. At one time there was a wifi in their neighborhood named:

      MARTHA SUCKS!

      --
      No matter where you go, there you are.
    26. Re: WiFi names? by InvalidsYnc · · Score: 1

      Very creative. I like this one. Would mod up if I had points. For those that don't know that Nguyen is pronounced like "when" it wouldn't make sense. But "It hurts when I pee" is pretty funny.

    27. Re:WiFi names? by arth1 · · Score: 1

      At one time there was a wifi in their neighborhood named:

      MARTHA SUCKS!

      Well, did she?

    28. Re:WiFi names? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Not crazy per se but I do like "Pretty Fly for a Wi-Fi". Someone in my building has this one.

    29. Re:WiFi names? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Bonus points if that WiFi point is open and they transparently proxy requests along with a script that flips, blurs or eitherwise mangles the data as it is sent to you.

    30. Re:WiFi names? by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      AmericaOnline

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    31. Re:WiFi names? by mr_resident · · Score: 1

      Hey, I'm #35!

      By the way, we've been meaning to ask you guys: What's with all the chicken bones?

    32. Re:WiFi names? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      A friend told me that he was using "FBI SURVEILLANCE VAN #17" until he was told not to, but that he could use #18.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    33. Re: WiFi names? by pnutjam · · Score: 1

      Don't just tease, give us an example, or...
      CITATION please.

      --
      Cheap storage VM.
    34. Re:WiFi names? by PPH · · Score: 1

      Disconnect

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  2. ATF Mobile 7 by jsrjsr · · Score: 1

    FBI Mobile 3

  3. Really? People need to relax and grow up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you over react to every non-incident the cost of reacting exceeds the damage of all the real incidents combined. I've got no idea what you people think "remote detonator" is actually going to do- but there is zero threat here and given the cops apparently agree you need to learn to relax. And cops *ALWAYS* over react.

  4. Hopefully they only fall for it once by chispito · · Score: 2

    I hope the pranksters don't learn about the ESP8266. I think those things only cost a few bucks each.

    --
    The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
    1. Re:Hopefully they only fall for it once by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I hope the pranksters don't learn about the ESP8266. I think those things only cost a few bucks each.

      You can get an ESP-01 for about a buck fifty, even if you only buy one. But you'll also need some way to program it, and some way to feed it 3.3v.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Hopefully they only fall for it once by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      $3+ even on banggood.com you only save about 20 cents compared to the ESP-12.

      To pay $1.50 you'd almost certainly need to first travel to China and open a Chinese bank account. And still, the way to get single quantities would be to buy samples, which isn't very repeatable.

    3. Re:Hopefully they only fall for it once by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      All I ask is tree fiddy.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    4. Re:Hopefully they only fall for it once by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      and some way to feed it 3.3v.

      Lithium battery stack will do it just fine, a 3.3v stack won't run you more then $0.50 US and will probably keep it running for a few weeks.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    5. Re:Hopefully they only fall for it once by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      $3+ even on banggood.com you only save about 20 cents compared to the ESP-12.

      Well, they've gone up slightly... $1.79 each. Banggood, snerk. Never the cheapest. Ever.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    6. Re:Hopefully they only fall for it once by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      "5 available."

      It only takes a few dozen sales in a day to increase the prices, the Chinese companies are good at this; if you mention something like that on 1 popular youtube channel, the ebay price went up. The amazon prices are more stable, but they still jump. Good deals like that are real, but it is often in error to insist that it is a repeatable activity.

      The banggood prices are real prices, not teasers; they're high, sure, but they'll tend to track the local price, and if you're ordering in volume you'll get good discounts. Cheaper outlets will never have a firm price.

  5. WOW! and just more Wow! by Zurkeyon3733 · · Score: 1

    Someone got Trolled HARD on this! I wonder how much money they lost looking for this Non-Criminal? LMMFAO!

    1. Re:WOW! and just more Wow! by Aristos+Mazer · · Score: 1

      A jumble of wires and a block of clay would at least be a reasonable device. Reacting like this to "Remote Detonator" is dumb because it is not real evidence of anything. The only way this is reasonable is if you react this way to *any* unrecognized wifi network on your property (which implies you run a really high security site).

    2. Re:WOW! and just more Wow! by arth1 · · Score: 1

      Having a Wifi named "remote detonator" is a bomb threat IMO, even if you think it's just a joke.

      YO is noted, but is irrelevant. The man on the Clapham omnibus, would not be alarmed by this, and that's the standard we need to go by. There is no need for, nor should there be, making exceptions for the unreasonable.

    3. Re:WOW! and just more Wow! by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      Terrorism.

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    4. Re:WOW! and just more Wow! by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      It is not a bomb threat. Perhaps you should check with a dictionary?

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  6. Re:oh, the jokes.... by Hugh+Jorgen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Daddy is a little uptight...

  7. Funny SSID by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    I called mine "Flowers By Irene".

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  8. Scared silly little humans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    People are so paranoid these days its ridiculous. Paranoid over germs, the result they created super germs. Paranoid over war, they created super weapons. Children brought up completely shielded from reality that cant cope in the real world... We are our own worst nightmare.

  9. Anonymous reader? by Chewbacon · · Score: 1

    I think we have a winner, Agent Johnson.

    --
    Chewbacon
    The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
  10. Re:oh, the jokes.... by chill · · Score: 2

    What he saw was the movie "Wargames". Lighten up a bit.

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  11. Good Cop, Have a Donut by bestweasel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm cheered by Chief Pussehl's reaction. No SWAT team, no one got shot or arrested, he didn't call for new laws, he didn't even say it was a bad idea to call your wifi "Remote Detonator".

    1. Re:Good Cop, Have a Donut by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I'm cheered by Chief Pussehl's reaction. No SWAT team, no one got shot or arrested, he didn't call for new laws, he didn't even say it was a bad idea to call your wifi "Remote Detonator".

      Tell me about it. I just googled to see if another country had a placed named Michigan to see if we're just confusing it with the USA. Turns out we're not. This person is unbecoming of a police office in the USA and should be fired at on the spot!

      #notatypo

  12. IOT detonator, we are safe by GuB-42 · · Score: 1

    That thing will first verify that it is paired with approved explosives, which will never happen because it requires gigabit internet to do so, the authentication servers are down, and the explosives you bought need a firmware upgrade, which isn't available because you bought them last week and their long term support lasts 5 days.
    It can still show you ads though.

  13. Re:Near me at work by speedlaw · · Score: 1

    subspace relay, and Transwarp conduit

  14. Shades of Ignignokt and Err by ewhac · · Score: 3, Funny

    My mobile hotspot SSID is, "ERR:Buf overrun; restart WiFi".

    --
    Editor, A1-AAA AmeriCaptions
    1. Re:Shades of Ignignokt and Err by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Along the same lines, I call mine "Connection Failure."

  15. Re:oh, the jokes.... by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you didn't praise him for using a name from War-games, you should go to YOUR room without supper.

    Tell him the cool people all know what he did and it was awesome.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  16. What next? by Todd+Knarr · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What next, evacuating an entire shopping mall because someone wrote "Bomb" on a sticky note and slapped it on a garbage can?

    1. Re:What next? by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      What next, evacuating an entire shopping mall because someone wrote "Bomb" on a sticky note and slapped it on a garbage can?

      Yes.

      We ARE at that point.

      But for easier shits and giggles, do it in the men's room at the airport and watch all hell break loose.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    2. Re:What next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      We've gone beyond that. They suspend children from elementary school because they broke a zero-tolerance rule by biting a piece of toast into the shape of a gun.

    3. Re: What next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Here's one better...

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Boston_Mooninite_panic

    4. Re:What next? by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      What next, evacuating an entire shopping mall because someone wrote "Bomb" on a sticky note and slapped it on a garbage can?

      Well, local school did that due to a scrawl in a bathroom ...

    5. Re:What next? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      What next, evacuating an entire shopping mall because someone wrote "Bomb" on a sticky note and slapped it on a garbage can?

      My own city removed all the bins from the train station during the G20 summit for that reason. ... They didn't get replaced after that. I make it a point to throw my garbage on the ground where the bins used to be.

    6. Re:What next? by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      You know damn well that would cause complete panic.

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    7. Re: What next? by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      "On January 31, 2007, at 8:05 a.m., a passenger spotted one of the devices on a stanchion that supports an elevated section of Interstate 93 "

      I can see how things got out of hand at that point. Probably not a good idea to mount one to an overpass support.

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  17. Seems about right. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

    Pussehl says there's "no crime or threat," so no charges are expected.

    Planet Fitness *is* a "Judgement Free Zone". :-)

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:Seems about right. by arth1 · · Score: 1

      Is that the "fitness" club where they have pizza nights?
      Only in 'tis of thee...

    2. Re:Seems about right. by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      I'm into fitness...fittin-ess this pizza in my mouth!

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    3. Re:Seems about right. by arth1 · · Score: 1

      They put people in shape. Round is a shape.

  18. Re:oh, the jokes.... by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

    Here here! Or hear hear! Whichever way it is spelled. Can't be arsed to go look it up right now.

    --
    This space unintentionally left blank.
  19. Re: oh, the jokes.... by ememisya · · Score: 1

    Was this essentially unintentional swatting? Also, would an SSID called, "This Access Point Is the Bomb!" empty out an airport?

  20. ApertureScience! by antdude · · Score: 1

    https://i.redd.it/ux6xsnbc1em0...

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  21. Re:GOLD! by stooo · · Score: 1

    We are all terrorists.

    --
    aaaaaaa
  22. I thought that's what Planet Fitness called... by magusxxx · · Score: 1

    ...their bagels and pizza.

    "Diet Destruction Confirmed. Next Target Aquired."

    --
    Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
  23. Re:oh, the jokes.... by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

    Here here! Or hear hear! Whichever way it is spelled. Can't be arsed to go look it up right now.

    Hear, hear! You're welcome.

    And to be congratulated that you knew you didn't know the correct spelling....

    --

    "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
  24. Now by DivineKnight · · Score: 1

    Now leave a rock in one of their gyms, with the words "Remote Detonator" scrawled on it, and see how many people panic.

  25. Re:oh, the jokes.... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    back in his middle school days, my son named ours: Global Thermonuclear War from something he saw. gaming privileges lost after that.

    Oh wow that post you just made will cost you a LOT of cred on Slashdot.

  26. Re: oh, the jokes.... by datavirtue · · Score: 1

    Yes. You know it would.

    --
    I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  27. What's in a name? by Toad-san · · Score: 1

    So I guess my router connection named "FBI Surveillance Van 3" is right out?

    One of my neighbors mentioned it; didn't have the heart to tell him it was me :-)

  28. Terrornetzwerk by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    in english: terrornetwork

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  29. Actual headline should be... by Bitbeard · · Score: 1

    Actual headline should be: "Decades Later, We're Still Underestimating the Enemy"

    This reaction implies law enforcement and citizens think terrorists will stamp "TNT" on their bombs, run around in unusual clothes, attack in the same way they did last time, and name their detonators "remote detonator".

    The truth is terrorists are way smarter than that. When doing the act, they will blend in. I'd feel much safer if everyone was ready for that.

  30. There's the problem. by BobSteinVisiBone · · Score: 1

    > search of the facility by a bomb-sniffing dog.

    They called in the wrong sniffers. https://wigle.net/

    --
    Bob Stein, http://bobste.in
    1. Re: There's the problem. by BobSteinVisiBone · · Score: 1

      I guess if I have to ask what that is, the answer is no.

      --
      Bob Stein, http://bobste.in
  31. Re: oh, the jokes.... by ememisya · · Score: 1

    Then again, you might be pleasantly surprised by some common sense.