Wirless internet?

Question

I am going to but a new notebook w/ wireless connectivity. What are the chances that someone in my apartment building/complex has an "open router". What type of trouble can I get into or using their connection if it is there? Can it be traced to me?

Answer 1

WEP is very insecure. It was the first technology available to secure wireless networks, and unfortunately its still the most widely used. Its strong enough to keep someone out who only has an operating system with a wireless network driver program trying to connect to a network, but someone that knows a little about computers, can type "hacking wep" into Google, and has a laptop can break a WEP code within the half hour (some sites claim within MINUTES), and access everything that someone with the WEP code would have access to, including shared drives in your LAN. It is said that even WPA is insecure enough to be hacked within that same time amount, and with tools widely available.

If you really want a secure Wireless Network, use a computer as a router (e.g. a Linux box or a Windows machine) and install a Wirelss Access Point in your network. You can password protect access to the Internet by requiring the computer to log on to the Linux Box before being allowed to access the Internet. If you also password protect all your shares in the LAN, someone that will crack the WEP key will still need that password to access the internet, and needs passwords to access computers, and basically ends up in a WLAN he can't do anything in.

And hacking a Windows or Linux password (both Kerberos based I believe) is a whole different subject and is almost impossible.

The residential wireless routers people buy at Best Buy or CompUSA are the most insecure part of a home computer setup. And yes, I use one so people could access the Internet through mine if they hacked it. (Just not my computers as I don't have open shares)

Either way, if you think you are secure with WEP
Hmmm, so can my router block other computers except mine? I have a D-link

Some routers have a filter on MAC adresses, which will only allow certain MAC adresses to access the router.

However, I am told that Mac adresses can easily be spoofed with software, and if one of your computers is NOT turned on, a hacker can potentially use that Mac adress to access your network. (And what the Mac adress is can be captured when the computer is ON)

With wireless networks it is not a question of "am I secure" but rather a question of "am I secured enough"

WEP and WPA encryption will keep out the neighbour who accidently stumbles on your connection while trying to setup his, but it won't keep someone out who wants to get in and use your internet. Someone who "wants to get in" will in most cases just cruise to the next street over where there is a totally unsecured wireless network rather then to break their way into yours, so if you have a lazy hacker driving around I would not worry too much either.

But WEP is most definitly the weakest point in security when it comes to any home network. I use it myself as well because wiring over to where my wife has her computer is going to be a heck of a job, and we're in a rental.

And yeah.... I would be wary if your accountant has a home-office wireless router in the corner of his office.

With wireless networks you can only do so much security. There are 100% secure wireless network setups that use their own protocol, own security encryption, etc and are pretty much unhackable, but you are then at the mercy of 1 supplier for hardware, and your new laptop with built-in 802.11g may not connect to the router.

If you are using a wireless network only part of the day, you can also choose to get a WIRED router, and then an ACCESSPOINT. When you use the wireless network, turn on the AP, and when you go to bed, turn it off. Your wired computers will still have internet 24/7.
WEP and WPA encryption will keep out the neighbour who accidently stumbles on your connection while trying to setup his, but it won't keep someone out who wants to get in and use your internet.

Please stop grouping WEP together with WPA as if they're comparably vulnerable. They're NOT.

As far as I understand WPA, particularly WPA/AES, is, for most intents and purposes, uncrackable except by brute force password guessing. A long enough random (and rotating!) passphrase, and you're perfectly safe
If you are using a wireless network only part of the day, you can also choose to get a WIRED router, and then an ACCESSPOINT. When you use the wireless network, turn on the AP, and when you go to bed, turn it off. Your wired computers will still have internet 24/7.
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I also recommend a modem which can be 'paused', such as the Motorola SB5100. It's very useful not having to go in every time and disable the wireless part on the router settings. I just push the pause button on top of the modem when I'm away so nobody wardriving can get TCP/IP on my nickel . Not torally unrelated, I am still surprised at how many different home networks (along w/ relatively high signal strengths) are visible to me although I am quite some distance from the neighbors.
think it is not cool to use someone elses internet connection whether its unsecured or not. And definitly not to use illegal downloading through eMule, because it can kill routers if you set the connnections setting too high in eMule.

That being said, I have 2 unsecured routers that I can access from my couch, and then there are 3 secured ones including mine.

And that being said, I have been naughty. One night I was still at the computer at 2AM in the morning, and it turned out that RoadRunner had scheduled maintenance, and stopped my connection. So i got out my laptop, connected to one of the open routers, and it turned out one of them was on DSL which was still working. So I accessed the help.rr.com page and discovered that my RoadRunner outage was scheduled outage.

So I shut down my laptop and went to bed. Thats the only time that I have accessed the internet through an open router, and its good to know that there is one in my hood on DSL rather then on the same cable provider which can come in handy to check on scheduled maintenance and whatnot.

But no.... I don't generally access someone elses wireless network all the time. I think it is wrong.
Ready for another ethics question? "Stealing" wi-fi connection

Man Arrested for Accessing Wi-Fi Network

Florida man is charged with a felony after allegedly using someone else's home Wi-Fi network.

Stephen Lawson, IDG News Service
Friday, July 08, 2005

A man who allegedly accessed a home Wi-Fi network in St. Petersburg, Florida, from a parked car got logged off the hard way: He was arrested and charged with a felony.

Benjamin Smith III, 40, was arrested on April 21 outside the St. Petersburg home of Richard Dinon and charged under a Florida law that prohibits unauthorized access to a computer or network, says George Kajtsa, the police department's public information officer. A pre-trial hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday, according to the state attorney's office for Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Dinon saw Smith sitting in a parked sport-utility vehicle in front of his house and wondered what he was doing there, then saw he was using a notebook computer, Kajtsa says.

"What made him suspicious was, every time he looked toward the car, the guy closed the lid on his laptop," Kajtsa says. Dinon called police. When they came to the scene and approached the vehicle, Smith closed the computer again. The police asked him what he was doing and he finally owned up to it, Kajtsa says. Smith was arrested and the PC seized and sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as potential evidence.

Dinon was worried that Smith might be doing something illegal or inappropriate, Kajtsa says.

"What he was concerned about was not so much that the guy was accessing his [network], what he was concerned about was what he was accessing," Kajtsa says. Dinon was afraid he might be linked to whatever Smith was doing because it was his LAN being used, he says. "This guy did not want himself to be identified as accessing porn sites or child pornography."

Little-Used Law
The state law under which Smith was charged prohibits accessing a computer or network knowingly, willfully, and without authorization. Kajtsa says it's the first time anyone has been arrested in St. Petersburg for using someone else's Wi-Fi.

"This is a very little-used statute," Kajtsa says.

Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney has no sympathy for Wi-Fi users such as Dinon.

"He should have put security on his wireless LAN system. It's the guy's fault that he left it open," Dulaney says. "Don't the police have anything better to do?"

Open wireless LANs are still common in many residential areas even though Wi-Fi routers can be set not to broadcast their names and tools for encryption have improved since the early days of the technology. Dulaney estimated that half of all wireless LANs are completely open to unauthorized users.

Answer 2

It depends on what the building is made of. If it's just wood, you'll probably be able to find someone. If it's brick, the signal won't go very far. Likewise, it depends on the income level. Poor people with dialup internet don't buy routers. Higher income people with cable internet buy routers. There was a person who got in trouble for using someone else's wireless internet without their permission, but he was actively going around and trying to do that. From your own home, I don't know for sure whether it's legal or not. I'd recommend trying to connect to someone. If you find someone, ask them permission. Offer to pay about ten dollars a month for the privelage. By the way, I used to share my internet connection wirelessly. I told everyone if I didn't want them to connect, they wouldn't be able to. I stopped doing that though just because I put my wireless router away.

Answer 3

The chances of finding an open router in your building are probably none. All the individual wireless modems are set up with a password. You can of course choose to leave it open, but who would want that? Theoretically they can trace you, but for that they have to be very well trained and have the right kind of equipment for it. If they don't have the training and the equipment, even if they notice somebody is using their wireless connection they cannot do anything, unless, of course, they choose to make it private, with a password...

Answer 4

You can buy any wireless USB Adapter... BUT it is worth finding out what what type of coverage your wireless router gives you so that you can buy the best USB adapter for it. There are several different coverage types but the most common are - standard coverage - up to 54Mbps (slower speeds and your wireless won't work very far away from the router) and standard+ coverage - up to 108Mbps (which gives you faster downloads and allows you to use your laptop further away from the router). If your router is only 54Mbps then buy a 54Mbps USB adapter as buying a faster 108Mbps adapter would be a waste of money. However, if you have a 108Mbps router then it's worth the extra £10-15 on a 108Mbps adapter as it'll give you a stronger, faster internet connection.

Answer 5

if they wanted to they would be able to see that someone was connected to there wireless but that would be highly unlikely if they were dumb enough to not secure it in the first place. If there is someone close enough to you with a strong enough signal and it's open use it, if you feel guilty go slide a few bucks under there door. If your picking up any secured access points and you know whos they are maybe they will add your system if you offer to pitch in on the monthly bill.

Answer 6

It is against Federal Law to use another persons Wireless connection without their permission. So take your chances. If caught and convicted you could be barred from using a computer (work or private) for the rest of your life. The prison time is a gimmie.

Answer 7

There are enough idiots out there so that you can find an open router just about anywhere. Just remember that using someone else's router is theft of service and you can be arrested.

Answer 8

Yes you can use other peoples' wireless internet connection undetected if it is an open connection and they will break your legs when I tell them.

Big Brother will come after you for downloading porn, pirated media and such.

If you can connect to them, chances are they can connect to you.

Answer 9

dude! i was just discussing this w/my cuz.
i don't know what the chances are but there are wireless setups able to run a small community. you could all split the cost, & if someone doesn't pay their share you just change the password & let the others know.
anyone tapped in will show up as the account holder.

Answer 10

It is illegal. When you have a wireless router you should always make sure the connection is protected and encrypted.

Answer 11

A lot of routers we have in our homes won't give signals through walls, so you're probably safe.