How these internet "hot spots" work

> you'll find that a lot of unsuspecting people leave their >networks unlocked, allowing you to "highjack" their wireless >internet.

which is of course very illegal and immoral

why yes of course - i'd never dream of doing such a thing myself... ;)

I might be tempted if I was away from home and desperate :)

I'm not aware that it's illegal to connect to a stupid person's unsecured network, any more than it is illegal to listen to their radio if it's loud enough for you to hear.

My wireless network shows as unsecured, but still not accessible to everyone.

unsecured or not it's illegal, just like entering and unsecured house when having no right.

Quite right Red Frog as if they turn their radio up its "free to air "
You have to conciously find a network and if you choose to use it its illegal as you say. comes under the communications act I think

If Gerhard P1's network is unsecured get a friend with a lappy to come around and see if he can log on. If he can be worried.

The person may not be "stupid" as you say, maybe just not savvy or had bad advice.

The legislation I found to be relevant to Wardriving is the Cybercrime Act 2001. In particular

477.3 Unauthorised impairment of electronic communication

(1)
A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a)
the person causes any unauthorised impairment of electronic communication to or from a computer; and
(b)
the person knows that the impairment is unauthorised; and
(c)
one or both of the following applies:
(i)
the electronic communication is sent to or from the computer by means of a telecommunications service;
(ii)
the electronic communication is sent to or from a Commonwealth computer.

--So basically, If you are driving around looking for wireless AP's and then using the Internet when you find them then the following applies

A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a)
the person causes any unauthorised impairment of electronic communication to or from a computer; and

--Well you are imparing the electronic communication as you are using some of it's bandwidth but there is an and needed to make it an offence. Also this part of the act actually concerns denial of service attacks but their definition of impairment is grey and could include this. However if that were the case it would also include just having a network card in your laptop and waliking past as they automatically connect to unsecure networks and any such connention would impair the communication.

(b)
the person knows that the impairment is unauthorised; and

--I'll admit that this part seems a bit of a grey area but how do you tell if a network is unauthorised and not a public wireless AP. Now I know some people are getting "scalps" by entering the router's IP and then logining into it. That IS illegal as you have clearly entered a restricted area.

>"I'm not aware that it's illegal to connect to a stupid person's unsecured network"
Why would they be stupid? Because they not that good with computers?

Does that mean if you dont have security screens on your house its your own stupid fault if you get broken into and its acceptable???
Strange way of looking at something.

What was that Hotspot address again? Ohhh yes I remember ... 23 Premiers Rd Catland :o)

hahha love it, GO THE MIGHTY CATTERS

Go Cats 2008

And if by some chance you have "shared " any of your drives they are open to see for anyone on the network. Also someone using the network illegally can spoof your address and send almost anything over that and you can get the blame if they are being nasty.
Some nice people have been known to drive around with sniffer programs and they can get into anything on your computer including passwords if they have the right stuff. Anyone who leaves a wireless network open in my opinion deserves anything that may happen to them. It is the computer equivilent of going on holiday and leaving all your doors and windows open.
I run wireless and use 128 bit encryption so that whats mine stays mine
. PS where are u Mike, I need to d/load a few movies, handy to use someone elses monthly allocation rather than mine. HE HE

And I did get a radio thanks

I was thinking the exact same thing. What if you live next door to a pedofile for example and he uses your network to download child porn. There's plenty of other examples where this could turn to sh*t...

Only thing that may save you is the MAC number of the computer is usually logged somewhere and if you can prove yours isnt the one you would be OK.
In saying that I got some nasties once from a university computer and found the MAC number of it
When I rang the supposed IT guy he denied it until he went and looked at his files and found I was right.
Up till then he denied any one could do that from his system. Shows that everthing is possible if you know how to do it.

Life is full of risks people - try as you may you will never be able to exclude them all - and it's nice to help others as we pass through.

Graham: if you really want a couple of movies my 25GB bandwidth per month is far more than I need and when exceeded it simply limits to a 64KB stream.

Compared to having an accident in my car and other daily risks - internet issues rate pretty low :)

Radio???

Mike Harding

My thoughts exactly, Big Red. Better to not be the generous soul.
I read about this argument used in courts, where the accused reckoned that someone must have accessed their open wireless network to download porn or illegal movie downloads.
I have a wireless network for the odd time when I want to run the lappy out on the deck, or for when friends stay, but I run WPA2 128 bit encryption and also hide my SSID to keep out unwanted users.
And WEP is too easy to crack.
Gerry

In a perfect world everyone would willingly share their internet and we'll all sing songs around a maypole haha but when it has the potential to cause you so much hassle why risk itr? People who want wireless internet everywhere should fork out for next G and get sh*tty coverage like everyone else :P

>but when it has the potential to cause you so much hassle why risk itr?

Because I don't believe everyone is out to get me (a few sad individuals on here excepted :) - and the risk is a _lot_less than you scaremongers make out.

Mike Harding

Mightnt be when someone empties your bank account for you.
It has been done more than once. These sniffer progams can haul anything out of an unsecured computer.

I have 20 gig and shaping so just joking but some months would be handy.
Still took two months to d/load 5 Garth Brooks concerts

Mike

It's not so much scare mongering as common sense. I'm sure back in the day when people left their doors unlocked they would say that there's no need to lock doors because "everyone isn't out to get them" but over time it has become the norm because people have come to realise the risks involved.

As wireless internet technology is relatively new, many people may fail to realise the potential risks associated with unsecured networks, and hence it's useful to provide a word of caution. Whether or not you secure your own network is obviously a personal choice...

haha Jimbo Vic - have we answered your question in enough detail?

Big Red

A simple solution is to live in my suburb in Adelaide. No broadband available, not even the expensive wireless versions.

*Sigh*

Pete

I'm astonished they were not beset by paedophiles, buggerers, pelican abusers and goodness knows who else taking advantage of them? How can that be, if one is to believe this thread?

Mike Harding

Possibly because he was in the UK they are a little more refined As they are renowned tea drinkers they might just do it at home at 4pm and have their own "hotspots" LOL Perhaps lack of Pelicans may make a difference??

Everyone knows pedofiles go to boost juice - not high end coffee shops. I'd say that the coffee shop may have had the foresight to install a net monitoring device such as those which are common in basically any environment that has a large number of wireless users (such as a university). And i doubt the coffee shop would use a computer which had personal details to route the wireless internet traffic in its store.

I didnt know that but then I dont drink coffee or boost juice. nearly old enuf for Viagra but dont need it either. Get Peed off when Pelicans sit on the light standards on our bridge and s**t just as bus goes under Got whole windscreen covered once Good for removing paint as well LOL

>I didnt know that but then I dont drink coffee or boost juice

well you're missing out mate!! could be hanging out with kiddy fiddlers or surfing pelicanabusers.org

So you guys missed the news last week that a guy sat for some time in the Qantas first class lounge downloding child porn using one of the free kiosk computers provided.

Eventually one of the passing passengers was so horrified they complained about it. Staff called the Federal coppers on duty at the airport and he was arrested and charged.

Totally amazing that someone could be so brazen or stupid! He is yet to face court but is looking at possible jail time.

Cheers

Were u in first class or cattle class. Some airport exec lounges have it so suppose there is a bit of bleed there and if u r lucky u might get in ok.
Also are u a telstra subscriber would make a difference perhaps

We have several Telstra Hotspots at the Hotel I work at. They are in executive levels, conference centre and main bar area. At no cost to the hotel they provide another service to our clients. You have to be a Telstra subscriber though.

Good for Telstra who get the fees, but have to do the full install and maintenance of equipment, and us (the hotel) who pay nothing yet our clients can log on to the net.

Graham,
I was in cattle class - downstairs from the Qantas lounge. The Telsra message welcomed me to use the access. I am not a Bigpond customer. I was surprised - didn't think you could get anything for free from Telstra :-)

Geez, Phil, they usually want you to log into the Qantas page as a frrst requisite. Did you bypass that page? I will have to go to the annual meeeting and get the value on my shares... ;-)))))

I can just see you at the next shareholders meeting, John.
"hotspots aint hotspots, Sol"
:))

Internode provide free wireless access throughout the Adelaide terminal.

Pete