What about when Windows auto-connects to an open AP? Sure you would probably never get arrested for it, but its still technically illegal isnt it?
I interviewed an FBI agent here a few years ago, and he specified that they can't possibly go after every case of Windows auto-connecting to an open network. They're more focused on kiddie-porn, spam, and other 'net nasties.
But if someone access you Wifi use your bandwidth (or delete files from your computer (I actually deleted a virus from Win 98 PC once using Wifi..)) you can at least prove that you did not want them on your network.
I actually asked an FBI agent about this and a few other questions a few years ago here.
Actually, there is. Your access-point broadcasts it's SSID, and an invitation for clients to connect -- about 10 times per second (IIRC). This is part of the specification. Most modern APs will allow you to change some of these parameters, including to prevent SSID broadcasts. Otherwise, most APs do actually invite clients that are within range to connect. Most of them, signal permitting, will do just that.
How long till some kid with a NintendoDS get's arrested for playing Animal Crossing using an AP the software autodetected?
NintendoDS/WiFi MP3 player/Wii network abuse arrests in 5... 4... 3...
Sitting in a car with a laptop is a bad idea. Bring a friend. Sit outside. Be very obvious. Politely answer questions when posed, and remember that uninformed people will think the worst first.
How does one figure out if the AP is for public use or just someone who forgot to set it up properly?
YOu can use the word 'Free' or 'Open' in your SSID -- or use a URL like I do. My SSIDs are all 'pghwireless.net'. Although it is tough to get to a URL when aren't sure you have permission.
If you're an AP owner -- make it obvious for the random stumbler. Use the built in encryption to keep people out, or use the words 'Open', 'Free', or something to try to make it obvious.
This isn't the sort of thing I was brought up to believe in. I was taught that we were supposed to believe in the constitution, and that the streets were paved with gold. Now I see that the constitution doesn't mean much, and the streets are lined with unemployed systems administrators!
It isn't so easy to just 'start a business'. You need capital. You need capital to do the paperwork, capital to pay bills. You need some employees, which costs more capital. It is not easy for some of us nerds that don't have the Joe Salesman presentation ability.
Seriously. As an experienced sysadmin (10+ years w/ Solaris, Linux, & BSD), I am having a terrible time securing even a simple tech-support job. I get calls from all across the country for positions, but none of them actually materialize. Most times, I can't even get a confirmation that my resume was received by a potential employer, and don't get me started on those job-application web-forms. What a tarpit those are (fill out the form, never hear from anyone).
Then again, I live in Pittsburgh, which is seemingly hostile to small businesses. Instead, I dig holes in my yard, and I have vegetable seedlings started. I don't think anything has given me so much satisfaction since I started my first couple of jobs at ISPs. Sure wish I could become a pot-farmer -- I'd be pretty good at it!
However, if he were to work in the US, he could afford a home in India after only 2 years of work. If I were an Indian, I would want to work in the US too.
Shit. I am an American living in the US, and I would love to work in the US too!
Shit. These kids get all the toys. I had to learn BASIC from an Apple ][ without a manual, or instructions. You know how hard it is to learn a programming language by trial and error? Now we're talking about 5-year-olds printing circuit boards on a printer. Man, if only...
I think this on should be marked 'Informative' -- it illustrates the American Way. As an American, I completely understand this. What's bad, is where assholes take this kind of attitude. With guns.
There is also the issue of spam-nazis, who simply delete all incoming edits. Notice how there is no reference of spam-nazi on wikipedia? We all know what a spam nazi is, and there should be an entry. I noticed that there wasn't an article, and put one in. I tried to be nice about it, and keep inline with wikipedia requirements. Hell, I even logged into my account to do it. Minutes later, it is flagged for deletion, and subsequently deleted. How ideal.
I think that there is a balance between "anyone can edit", and "everything is spam".
I am not surprised by this. In fact, having been the guy that started WiFiMaps.com (In '02), I've been talking about this to others for quite a while now. Positioning yourself using wifi is probably the most useful application for wardriving data. Does it need to be accurate? No, not really. I've talked to scientists working on sub-meter acuracy, and it is very difficult. If you can find out on which part of which block, there are tons and tons and tons of location applets you can think of off the top of your head to make use of that. If there are people interested in a copy of our national (and some other countries) database of wifi locations, ours is GPL'd.
What we don't have, is an all-in-one IM applet, which I guess Skyhook and AOL are now trying. Kudos.
I sure wish I had some business skills. That can be the difference between the company's product as a topic on slashdot, and a dude at home posting on slashdot with no pants on.
"It appears after years of criticism, Diebold may be ready to withdraw from electronic voting entirely. The company is concerned that this relatively small and marginally profitable unit is hurting the company's overall image."
Eeeeeeeew. I bought a gallon of raw buckwheat honey for brewing into mead. Just opening up the jug made my kitchen smell like wet dog -- for days.
I'm hoping that it will taste good in the future. As it is, the carboy still smells like wet dog (and yeast).
Slashdot Mirror
Carl and Tom spoke at one of the Pittsburgh dorkbot meetings. There's iPod video and MPEG-4 of their presentation in the March archives.
Can someone please translate the story into American?
We're all fucked.
BTW Pittsburgh is wonderful :) use to drive there every other weekend.
Hopefully you were just driving through!
What about when Windows auto-connects to an open AP? Sure you would probably never get arrested for it, but its still technically illegal isnt it?
I interviewed an FBI agent here a few years ago, and he specified that they can't possibly go after every case of Windows auto-connecting to an open network. They're more focused on kiddie-porn, spam, and other 'net nasties.
But if someone access you Wifi use your bandwidth (or delete files from your computer (I actually deleted a virus from Win 98 PC once using Wifi..)) you can at least prove that you did not want them on your network.
I actually asked an FBI agent about this and a few other questions a few years ago here.
There is no 'invitation'.
Actually, there is. Your access-point broadcasts it's SSID, and an invitation for clients to connect -- about 10 times per second (IIRC). This is part of the specification. Most modern APs will allow you to change some of these parameters, including to prevent SSID broadcasts. Otherwise, most APs do actually invite clients that are within range to connect. Most of them, signal permitting, will do just that.
How long till some kid with a NintendoDS get's arrested for playing Animal Crossing using an AP the software autodetected?
NintendoDS/WiFi MP3 player/Wii network abuse arrests in 5... 4... 3...
Sitting in a car with a laptop is a bad idea. Bring a friend. Sit outside. Be very obvious. Politely answer questions when posed, and remember that uninformed people will think the worst first.
How does one figure out if the AP is for public use or just someone who forgot to set it up properly?
YOu can use the word 'Free' or 'Open' in your SSID -- or use a URL like I do. My SSIDs are all 'pghwireless.net'. Although it is tough to get to a URL when aren't sure you have permission.
If you're an AP owner -- make it obvious for the random stumbler. Use the built in encryption to keep people out, or use the words 'Open', 'Free', or something to try to make it obvious.
Hi. Can I have my country back please?
This isn't the sort of thing I was brought up to believe in. I was taught that we were supposed to believe in the constitution, and that the streets were paved with gold. Now I see that the constitution doesn't mean much, and the streets are lined with unemployed systems administrators!
Thanks for the good reads, Kurt. Time to go through my bookshelf, and do a little rediscovery. Thanks so much.
It isn't so easy to just 'start a business'. You need capital. You need capital to do the paperwork, capital to pay bills. You need some employees, which costs more capital. It is not easy for some of us nerds that don't have the Joe Salesman presentation ability.
Ever try to hire a salesman?
In Soviet America, Corporations outsource YOU!
Seriously. As an experienced sysadmin (10+ years w/ Solaris, Linux, & BSD), I am having a terrible time securing even a simple tech-support job. I get calls from all across the country for positions, but none of them actually materialize. Most times, I can't even get a confirmation that my resume was received by a potential employer, and don't get me started on those job-application web-forms. What a tarpit those are (fill out the form, never hear from anyone).
Then again, I live in Pittsburgh, which is seemingly hostile to small businesses. Instead, I dig holes in my yard, and I have vegetable seedlings started. I don't think anything has given me so much satisfaction since I started my first couple of jobs at ISPs. Sure wish I could become a pot-farmer -- I'd be pretty good at it!
However, if he were to work in the US, he could afford a home in India after only 2 years of work. If I were an Indian, I would want to work in the US too.
Shit. I am an American living in the US, and I would love to work in the US too!
Shit. These kids get all the toys. I had to learn BASIC from an Apple ][ without a manual, or instructions. You know how hard it is to learn a programming language by trial and error? Now we're talking about 5-year-olds printing circuit boards on a printer. Man, if only...
I think this on should be marked 'Informative' -- it illustrates the American Way. As an American, I completely understand this. What's bad, is where assholes take this kind of attitude. With guns.
That's neat! How long until we can print circuits with something like an ink-jet?
There is also the issue of spam-nazis, who simply delete all incoming edits. Notice how there is no reference of spam-nazi on wikipedia? We all know what a spam nazi is, and there should be an entry. I noticed that there wasn't an article, and put one in. I tried to be nice about it, and keep inline with wikipedia requirements. Hell, I even logged into my account to do it. Minutes later, it is flagged for deletion, and subsequently deleted. How ideal.
I think that there is a balance between "anyone can edit", and "everything is spam".
In Soviet Massachusetts, Diebold sues YOU!
Sorry, I cound't stop myself.
I am not surprised by this. In fact, having been the guy that started WiFiMaps.com (In '02), I've been talking about this to others for quite a while now. Positioning yourself using wifi is probably the most useful application for wardriving data. Does it need to be accurate? No, not really. I've talked to scientists working on sub-meter acuracy, and it is very difficult. If you can find out on which part of which block, there are tons and tons and tons of location applets you can think of off the top of your head to make use of that. If there are people interested in a copy of our national (and some other countries) database of wifi locations, ours is GPL'd. What we don't have, is an all-in-one IM applet, which I guess Skyhook and AOL are now trying. Kudos. I sure wish I had some business skills. That can be the difference between the company's product as a topic on slashdot, and a dude at home posting on slashdot with no pants on.
Oh, they did? I've been using GNU/Linux. How's that for a troll?
Fake watermark generator in 5... 4... 3... 2
(now if'n you can get Vista to install w/o a GUI, well - that I've gotta see...)
You mean DOS?
"It appears after years of criticism, Diebold may be ready to withdraw from electronic voting entirely. The company is concerned that this relatively small and marginally profitable unit is hurting the company's overall image."
Good. What other voting machines need to go next?
In the United States of America, government TV watches YOU!
I'm sorry, I had to.
Eeeeeeeew. I bought a gallon of raw buckwheat honey for brewing into mead. Just opening up the jug made my kitchen smell like wet dog -- for days. I'm hoping that it will taste good in the future. As it is, the carboy still smells like wet dog (and yeast).