Steal This Wifi

[Wondermonkey]

Whenever I talk or write about my own security setup, the one thing that surprises people -- and attracts the most criticism -- is the fact that I run an open wireless network at home. There's no password. There's no encryption. Anyone with wireless capability who can see my network can use it to access the internet.

To me, it's basic politeness. Providing internet access to guests is kind of like providing heat and electricity, or a hot cup of tea. But to some observers, it's both wrong and dangerous.

I'm told that uninvited strangers may sit in their cars in front of my house, and use my network to send spam, eavesdrop on my passwords, and upload and download everything from pirated movies to child pornography. As a result, I risk all sorts of bad things happening to me, from seeing my IP address blacklisted to having the police crash through my door.

While this is technically true, I don't think it's much of a risk. I can count five open wireless networks in coffee shops within a mile of my house, and any potential spammer is far more likely to sit in a warm room with a cup of coffee and a scone than in a cold car outside my house. And yes, if someone did commit a crime using my network the police might visit, but what better defense is there than the fact that I have an open wireless network? If I enabled wireless security on my network and someone hacked it...

Read the full Wired story here.

[Serren]

I agree with that writer, and it is why my network is open as well. If anyone is using my bandwidth, I have never noticed. If they are stealing my songs or downloaded tv shows, I have never noticed.

I dont even you virus protection or firewalls. I rock out with my **** out!! They just slow my computer down and bother me. I have never had a real virus. A little adware over the years is all. Like people WITH antivirus software.

I do leave all computers off in my house unless using them except for my media serving PC with all my music, shows, rips, and Wii downloads. Must of that stuff was from the torrents anyway, so why lock it down now?

[Peench]

My WiFi has been open since the day I set it up. Every once in a while I kick people off just so that my online experience doesn't suffer, but otherwise, it is totally open. My computer with my photos and music is off most of the time and locked down when it is on though.

[MadBryan]

I'm wide open Jerry, AND LOVE'IN EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!

[D_Litch]

Originally Posted by MadBryan

I'm wide open Jerry, AND LOVE'IN EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!

My network gaping open as well. I've never had a problem with any leeches.

[KEEZY]

I'm not sure, but I think that you are liable for any damage done via your internet connection.

And yes, if someone did commit a crime using my network the police might visit, but what better defense is there than the fact that I have an open wireless network?

I would think this is a terrible defense. I don't think police will buy the "It wasn't me, it was somebody else that must have used my wireless." "OK then, good citizen, case closed, you are innocent!" Not likely. That's like leaving your doors unlocked, and having somebody murdered in your house. "Oh, I leave my doors unlocked, somebody else must have come in and murdered." That shit sure didn't work for Mike Vick You'd need to have evidence that it wasn't you.

I kind of see the point about security though. If you did have security, and somebody still hacked it, the "wireless user in the car" alibi might be harder to sell. Truth is, most wireless networks are unsecure (so many people say insecure, but networks don't have feelings or worry if their thighs are too fat), even with security enabled.

I think the biggest worry is that you have sensitive stuff on your home network. I know a lot of people have open wireless, and just have security inside their network. The neighbors can get to the internet fine, but hit a brick wall if they try and get to his ish.

P.S. Networking gets me aroused.

[lovekeiiy]

You all are way more nicer than me. My stuff is way more secured than yours. I have fallwalls on for everything--routers, and computers. I run smoothwall which is a dedicated PC specifically designed to be a hardware firewall, and also splits my network into two networks, one being more secure than the other. I have passwords for the SSIDs, don't broadcast the signal. I just haven't setup the MAC address list.

Although the spammers is a minor concern, I just don't pay for internet service for some stranger to use. Plus, as much as one can try the "it wasn't me" defense, police don't care. With crimes that occur on the net, the people who get busted at the two ends of it. And unfortunately, it would be your burden to prove it wasn't you who was distributing child porn or what not. Sure it's may be only a 1% of someone during that, but since it's not that hard to setup, how much is it worth to do versus the cost of dealing with the bad.

And yes, I have gotten full blown viruses. It totally sucks. In fact, I've got one now. I think it's a spyware one though, but doesn't do much because of all the other stuff running.

[Wondermonkey]

My computer doesn't get sick, so I usually leave it open, but there are 4 or 5 other open ones in my building. When I'm on Live though, it's locked up tight.

[Serren]

"And yes, I have gotten full blown viruses. It totally sucks. In fact, I've got one now. I think it's a spyware one though, but doesn't do much because of all the other stuff running."

See, all your protection and you still caught something. Plus, a real hacker would laugh at your protection scheme and bust it open without any troubles. Not that a pro would bother with you. Unless he or she was wondering why you have so much security. The "what's he hiding" lure...

[Peench]

The "it wasn't me defense" would work if you didn't have the stuff on your computer that they were looking for.

[Wondermonkey]

Originally Posted by Peench

The "it wasn't me defense" would work if you didn't have the stuff on your computer that they were looking for.

Yeah, but everyone here has something the police are looking for. Let's not kid ourselves.

[Peench]

Originally Posted by Wondermonkey

Yeah, but everyone here has something the police are looking for. Let's not kid ourselves.

Sure, but they'd have to have it in the subpoena for it to be admissible.